HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 124, 2 July 1941, Page 4

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Sir, —From time to time we read in our local a few very hard words from our County Council room, in reference to our hospital. The last two by Councillor McCready in your issue of June 27. He says once you hardly saw a native in the hospital. This did apply to the white people of this district.. [I would be very interesting to know if such remarks call for class distinction. After many years spent ir this district, apparently he has no record of past expansion of our hospital. Is it correct to say the hospital was firstly a native hostpital. The first addition I can remember was a woman's ward of about fou? rooms, this was some 22 years ago; and remains part of our present hos pital buildings. Another point might be of interest. When the first portion of our present hospital waa built, in about the year 1923, one very often heard the following words: "Our hospital board are mad. they arei building a Avhite elephant." Yet what additions in buildings and staff before the election in 1938, the year most of our present social services started to effect our hospital at all. Second point is the! only way to get the native out of ou? hospital is to burn it down. Oh what a statement to come from such a public man. It would be very interesting to know how such a person asi Councillor McCready can link up such statements when at the same council table to Avhich he belongs the following was reported for its April meeting of the' year 1939: "•The council now supported a free hospital." One thing is left open, the fingers point to no reason, or person who has to carry the burden of-his words. It would be very interesting to know if the words are directed against the ability of our hospital board, o? the hospital staff, by not knowing at what stage to give a native a

discharge. If he does not cast any reflection upon these two, who then must carry the baby. It is to be hoped our hospital board will not let such remarks go unchallenged, as all ratexiayers aro effected by such wild statements. Yours etc., HARRY CARR.