"URGENT NEED."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 228, 25 September 1940, Page 8

"URGENT NEED."

PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

NORTH SHORE POPULATION

I The need for the establishment of a public hospital at Devonport for tho Xorth Shore area was stressed to-day by Mrs. Helen McLean, J.P., of Devonport, who has taken a lively interest in the subject for many years. She eaid th population was rapidly increasing and the district would be in great difficulties in the event of an epidemic. " The lives of many people are endangered when blood transfusions are needed owing to the long journey to the Auckland Hospital," said Mrs. McLean. "In addition, the experience of Xorth Shore residents is that the hospital is always full, and that ie another reason why steps should immediately be taken to construct a hospital at North Shore. If this is done it will be unnecessary to take over the Teachers' Training College as so strongly advocated by the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody. The establishment of proper hospital facilities at Devonport would relieve the congestion at the Auckland Hospital. " Why has not the Auckland Hospital Board utilised the land it purchased years ago at Xorthcote for hospital purposes?"' asked Mrs. McLean. "Nothing has been done to put it to the use for which it was bought. The North Shore boroughs have grown from the village state to important boroughs, Devonport having a population of close on 20,000 people. A hospital to serve Northcote and all the surrounding area is necessary, and one also to serve Devonport and Takapuna. This is all the more necessary now, as our soldiers will be coming home sick and wounded in large numbers and will need every care arnd attention that can be given them. I feel confident that a great deal of voluntary labour would be forthcoming to help the scheme through. A substantial sum could be raised in subscriptions of 1/ to furnish the institutions." Great War Work. Mrs. McLean referred to what was done at the North Shore for wounded and sick soldiers during the last war. A temporary hospital had been established and 25 soldiers were cared for throughout the war period and for «ome time afterwards. This was the result of a branch of St. John Ambulance being established at Devonport. Assistance was forthcoming from other St. John Ambulance divisions. Mention wae also made by Sirs. McLean of a supply committee on which she served during the Great War. " We organised depots where pa reels.of goods could be left, and these were collected by boy scouts," said Mrs. McLean. School children were given an interest in war work and many brought an eg:i a day to school, and these were, delivered to the hospital by the ecoute. A comforts' committee was also formed and the hospital was thus kept in cakes. sauces, pickles and jams. The soldiers were discharged as eoou a<i well to make room for others, said Mrs. McLean, who suggested that something similar could be organised now. "' The need is very urgent," she concluded.