AS FAR OFF AS EVER

Chronicle (Levin), 6 November 1947, Page 4

AS FAR OFF AS EVER

Minister Without Backing In Sanatorium Decision Remarks that might fairly be interpretecl as indieating that the Minister of Health (Miss Howard) is not re i-eiving the degree of support and co operation to which she is entitled from her Cabinet colleagues, were made a a' meeting of the Western Hospital Dis triets' .Joint Sanatorium Committee nOtaki yesterday by Mr. II. F. Toogood chairman of the Wellington Hospitas Board and a member of the committei: After nearly three years of proteeteu negotiations the committee early this year by a majority vote decided upoo an area of land in Levin as the site for its projected £300,000 tuberculosis sanatorium. As the land was Maori owned the committee found it would be uecessary to secure legislation to enable it to purehase the area. Following considerable correspondence and a deputation to IMiss Howard, the only reply available for the meeting yester day was that the matter had been referred to the Minister of Native Aii'air.-i foi his consideTation. Prefacing his remarks by saving that this was a matter to which the Press could give publicity Mr. Toogood, after referring to what he described ts f'the great difficulties" under which Miss Howard was, working added: ''ll is hopeless for us to attempt to begin any major work like this unless thf Minister has the full support and c.o operation of her colleagues.-" Mr. P. E. Siaiiiton, of New Plymouth, who was a member of the deputation that waited upon Miss Howard in regard to the sanatorium site, said he felt the committee should eompliment Miss Howard on her efforts in behalf of the committee, and let her know that it appreciated the frustra tion which was meeting her endeavours to get action. The committee decided to write to the Minister of Health asking for an immediate decision oue way or another on the site in question, with a request that if any doubt existed regarding the availability of the site departmental officers should survey .further suitabie sites. Outlining the steps so far taken, the chairman, Mr. J. A. Nash, said it wouldsee.m as if the Government intended making a Dominion-wide survey of building programmes and there was a possibility, if a Royal Commission ivas set up, that it would be 12 months before the committee heard anything about the site. Mr. T. R. Anderson: In three years' time we'll be back where we started. Mr. W. .T. Gaudin, of Wellington, said the committee should look for another site altogether. Mr. Toogood: There are any amount of sites available in the same loeality. Mr. Rtainton: Are they available? Mr. Toogood: I have been assured they could be made available.