Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 6

Local and General News

One Recruit Yestcrda, There was one recruit for the New Zealand Special Force at the Timaru Defence Office yesterday, Victor Charles Blissett, lorry driver, of Geraldine. The number of recruits from South Canterbury now totals 409. Camp at Cave In connection with the opening of the military camp at Cave, an appeal is made for suitable reading matter, including books and magazines, for the men. Books and magazines may be left at the South Canterbury Hospital Board office, where Mr H. G. Naylor will arrange for their despatch to the camp. Doctors on Military Service Advice was received from the honorary general secretary of the British Medical Association, Wellington, by the South Canterbury Hospital Board suggesting that any medical officers who enlisted in the New Zealand Special Force should be given leave of absence and reinstatement without loss of seniority on return. Intelligence of Maoris “They are much more intelligent than many Europeans know,” said Mr Justice Blair in the Supreme Court in Gisborne, when discounting a suggestion made by Mr A. A. Whitehead that Maoris did not have the competence in business matters enjoyed by Europeans, The question occurred when Mr Whitehead said that many Maoris did not understand anything about securities. Has Car and House “There will be no need for motor salesmen to try and sell me a car or estate agents to sell me a house, for I have both a car and a house," said the winner of the second prize of £lOOO in the “One for Luck” art union, Mr V. E. Dowsett, Wanganui. Mr Dowsett, who is a married man with two sons, said that he would probably invest the £lOOO. He had delayed buying a ticket and rang up a young woman relative and asked her to purchase one for him. Absent Without Leave Members who have been absent from the sessions of the Presbyterian General Assembly without leave were given a warning at the final session of the Assembly. The Rev. John Hubbard informed members at the afternoon sitting yesterday that unless they were prepared to pay better attention to the business of the Assembly very drastic action would have to be taken to see that they attended. On Mr Hubbard's motion the Assembly resolved, “That the attention of the Assembly be drawn to the absence of members of the Assembly without leave of absence." Insufficient Publicity A complaint that insufficient publicity was being given to the Assembly’s business in some centres outside Christchurch was heard at the Presbyterian General Assembly yesterday. Reference was made to the publicity given to the Synod of another church body meeting in Christchurch. The Rev. A. M. Elliffe moved, “That the committee on standing committees be asked to nominate a press reporting committee to the General Assembly." He said that that measure would help to obtain greater publicity for the proceedings of the Assembly. The motion was carried. Hospital Social Service The fact that the number of cases requiring assistance showed a considerable increase in spite of the Social Security benefits was commented on at the South Canterbury Hospital Board meeting yesterday when the Social Service Committee reported that 11 new applications for assistance had been received in October, compared with seven in October, 1938. Eighteen temporary cases had been granted further assistance during the month, compared with seven in October last year. The value of orders issued to 60 cases over the whole district amounted to £172/17/6. In October, 1938, 54 cases accounted for £173/18/8. Hospital Soldier Patients

The possibility that accommodation might have to be provided for soldier patients at the Timaru Hospital was mentioned by the medical superintendent, Dr. J. C. McKenzie, at the monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday. Dr. McKenzie explained that if there were only a few cases the men could be accommodated in the hospital, but if there were a sudden influx of influenza cases, or anything of the kind, they would have to be accommodated at the Talbot Hospital. He proposed that, if necessary, the scarlet fever cases at Talbot Hospital and the tubercular cases, if any, should be accommodated at the Waimate Hospital. The Board agreed to Dr. McKenzie’s suggestion. Hospital Treatment Appreciated The chairman (Mr E. Macdonald) informed members of the South Canterbury Hospital Board at the monthly meeting yesterday that a deputation of three former patients at the Timaru Hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, had called on him at the Board’s office on Monday to express appreciation of the treatment they had received while undergoing treatment. Mr Macdonald mentioned that the spokesman had enthused about the medical superintendent, Dr. J. C. McKenzie, and the matron, Miss M. L. Lindsay, and the nursing staff, and the manner in which they had been looked after. Mr H. J. Clark remarked. that as he was frequently at the hospital numbers of the patients had spoken in the same terms to him, and Mr B. R. Macdonald said that he had also heard complimentary references. Civilians and Soldiers Allegations that soldiers in uniform on leave from the military camps had been subjected to sarcastic and abusive remarks from men in civilian clothes were made by Mr A. E. Gibbons, representing the Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association, at a recent meeting of the Hamilton Sub-centre of the New Zealand Red Cross Society. He stated that a number of reports of such behaviour had been received and had caused considerable comment in the camps. Mr Gibbons suggested that the time had come when young women should show preference for men in military uniform. Several present agreed heartily with Mr Gibbons's remarks. It would appear, it was stated, that the Army Department should introduce some distinguishing badge for civilians who were unfit for service, to show that they had already enlisted.