"NO MUDDLING."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 222, 18 September 1940, Page 3

"NO MUDDLING."

SAYS MR. MOODY. REPLY TO CRITICISM. '•Whatever sins the Auckland Hospital Hoard may have—and they may be many—it cannot be accused of muddling/' said Mr. Allan J. Moody, chairman of the board, to-day, in "reply to the protest made by the Auckland Education Board in respect to the proposal for the conversion of the Teachers' Training College into a hospital for war purposes. "This sublime state is left for some of the other local bodies," he said. "If some of them knew the present state ot affairs, they would realise that the Auckland Hospital Board is the onlv '' Patent and capable local authority to take a definite stand on matters affecting the health, not onlv of the civil commui.ity. but of our soldiers The onus of attending to the military re•yureinents lias been thrust upon the Hospital Hoard, and it will not shirk its responsibilities. '•Mr. Campbell is wrong when he states that the military authorities promise to take the Training College I must correct this impression. The" Hospital Board, with the sanction of the Minister of Health, is the authority directly concerned, and I regret that it 's thought that the military authorities are in any way interfering. I have already said in open board that I understand that there is such a thing as a war going on, but some sections of the community have to be constantly reminded of this fact. Tt must be admitted, and I think even conceded, that the men who are overseas and -oin" , overseas to right for the liberty of the British Empire and other countries are entitled as of right to be provided with the best hospital accommodation -it. is possible to give them. This duty the Auckland Hospital Board will carry out to the full. The Reason Why. "Why have I suggested the takinoover of the Teachers' Training College?" he asked. "It is because T consider it to be an ideal building and perfectly situated and equipped for a temporary hospital. Had the Government or the Department of Health adopted mv original suggestion some months ago to take this building over as a temporary hospital, either for war or emergency epidemic purposes, it would have been better for all concerned. I know that the students would be greatly inconvenienced, and I realise that they have contributed voluntarily for the provision of social amenities, but. after all, with the greatest, war in history in progress one is entitled to assume'that alf sections of the community should be and must be prepared to make some sacrifices.

"As to the question of suitable accommodation for the students, surely it will be easier to find temporarv accommodation for them than for sick* and wounded soldiers. They must come first. Buildings suitable for hospitals are not easily found and this suggestion would never have been made except for its urgency. I appreciate the help given by the Auckland Education Board in 'its willing assistance during the influenza epidemic and the Hospital Board appreciates also the foresight and judgment exercised by that board in having such a splendid building erected some years ago for training students. I trust that in the event of the school being handed over to the Hospital Board that the members of the Education Board will receive a great measure of comfort from the knowledge that its foresight is proving of inestimable value to the soldiers. "Stirring Up Trouble." "T regret that once again I have been the innocent cause of stirring up trouble hut it does seem to me that the Hospital Koard is the only authority which has the temerity to express its views openlv on a subject that calls for co operation trom every section of the community. "I agree with Mr. Snell that greater hosp]tal accommodation should" have heen provided in the cam|>s themselves However, this point apparently received the joint consideration of the military and health departments and in the wisdom of both it was decided to throw the whole responsibility of the sick soldier on to hospital boards."