Shannon Wants A Maternity Home

Chronicle (Levin), 23 August 1949, Page 3

Shannon Wants A Maternity Home

^ On top of the three maternity homes ] already in the planning atage, the Palmerston North Hospitai Board decided yesterday to investigate the merit in ] the claims of the Shannon borough for the establishment of a home there. A letter from the Borough Couneil re- ( eeived at the monthly meeting of the board yesterday pointed out that Shannon was the only borough in the hospitai board 's district not equipped with a home and as the town served a large surrounding area the council felt the town's claims should be c'onsidered. ' There is no neeessity for a home at Shannon, as far as I can see," commented Mr. J. Boyce. "It is not a great distance from Shannon to Levin or Palmerston North." Suggesting that the - matter be deferred till next year's estimates, Mr. A. J. Phillipps, managing-secretary, stated that he did not think the medical superintendent (Mr. J. H. North, at present on sick leave) would favour the establishment of a maternity home in a one-doctor practice area. "We do not want to lead the Shannon people on if • the erection of a maternity home is not feasible, " Mr. J. A. Nash (ehairman) stated. "Deferring the applieation till next year's estimates /wili' only start the log rolling." I Mr. V. J. Cottle stressed the fact that Shannon was the only borough in the board 's district that did not have a maternity home. The town served a large surrounding area which promi|ed a considerable increase in population in the near future. He said sueh a hospitai would also serve the settlement at Mangaore and the rehabilitation settlement being established on Okuku Road. Mr. Cottle said he 'uriderstood from Press reports that a maternity home was to be erected at Paraparaumu. This was nearer to Otaki than Shannon was to Palmerston North or Levin. He recommended that a committee be set up to investigate Shannon b.orough's case. ■"If a committee were set up," Mr. G. C. Petersen stated, seconding the motion, "the application would not be just cast aside without eonsideration. Let us make some decision." Mr. Cottle stated that not only the present population of the Shannon borough and district had to be considered but also the prospective population which would be xncreased by the rehabilitation settlement and the Government subdivision plans. The board resolved that the aeting medical superintendent, Dr. J. L). Willis, and the managing-secretary prepare a report on the position at Shannon and submit it to its next meeting.