WILL BE AN ASSET TO LEVIN

Chronicle (Levin), 6 May 1947, Page 4

WILL BE AN ASSET TO LEVIN

JUNIOR CHAMBER'S VIEW OF /SANATORIUM PROJECT The coming to Levin of . the Western District Hospitals'. Sanatorium is viewed by the Levin Junior Chamber of Commerce as a project which will be of immense benefit to the town. The Junior Chamber has adopted the scheme as a major undertaking and will do everything in its power, to see chat the chance of a lifetime is not lost to the town. Some observations on the _ pro- J posed Sanatorium were given. to one of the Junior Chamber's recent tea meetings by the secrecary, Mr.. G. H. Sorenson. "The • sanatorium will be administered oy the Western District's Sanatorium Committee," he said, 'la body whose territory extends along the western coast of the North Island, from Wellington in the south to Taumarunui in the north. The population to be •served by the institution is centred in the southern. part of this district, 75 per cent. being in the area between and including Pal- '* merston North and . Wellington, while 48 per cent. is in Wellington itself. This fact makes the choice of a site in Levin logical, and when the climatic conditions . of our district are i;aken into account uhen it is extremely desirable. "The site proposed, is on the north side of Kawiu ^,oad. On this it is proposed to build a main . - block capable of accommodating 200 patients, as well as staff and nurses' blocks. The complete staff is expected to number 400, which, fcogertier with dependants and patients, will increase the population of Levin by 1000 perso'ns. This is an increase of approximattly 25 Per cent. on our present popmation. "The buildings, land and improvements thereon are expected to cost £75,000, while the annual expenditure in Levin by the staff and their dependants, and the patients and their relartves, together with their demand on the public, commercial and professional services of the town, is estimated at £100, 000. Surely then, we, as representing the business community, should do all we can to see that such an improv^ ing factor in the wealth of our community does not slip away." Point for Clarification Much has been heard against fche sanatorium on the grounds of its detrimental effect on public health. In order to clarify this aspect the Junior Chamber has arranged for the medical Superintendent of the Otaki Sana- . torium to give a talk to its members in the near future, while it has requested reports from the Medical Superintendent of Ewart Hospital, Dr. Gillespie Maclean, and the Medical Officer of Health at Palmerston North, Dr. T. C. Lonie. When the . information from these" sources comes to hand the Junior Chamber will issue a public statement in regard to the matter in order to remove any misapprehension in the minds of. uhe people. . ' To date. the Junior Chamber has made representations to the members of Parliament for the town and district to press for the localisation of the institution on thei ;site chosefn, and subject to it being satisfied from the medical point of view will do everything possible to bring this about.