CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 849, 22 June 1910, Page 3

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

TO BE PUT IN HAND

AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS,

Tho provision of a proper children's hospital for Wellington seems at last to he within measurable distance. The ' Hospitals Committee reported yesterday to tho Hospital Board recommending:— "That the plans of the children's hospital, as approved by . the late board, the Chief Health Officer, and the medical superintendent, Dr. Hardwick Smith, be adopted; and that, with a view of the work being proceeded with as soon as possible, the Mayor be asked to call a public meeting to consider the question of raising funds." Mr. E. C. Kirk, chairman of the committee, in moving the recommendation, said that ho wished to impress its urgency on tho board. The present children's hospital was a wooden structure built about twenty years ago, and it had long been quite inadequate for its purpose, and tho one blot on the hospital system. He was quite certain that the board would agree as to the necessity for having a better building. The matter bad been before the late board for a long time, but their most urgent work was in removing the danger to the nursing staff in connection with the infectious diseases hospital. That work hail now been undertaken, and the children's hospital should bo put in hand. Plans had been prepared following the prize design submitted a year ago, and these had been reconsidered in detail many times by the late board, the medical staff, Dr. Yalintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, and tho medical superintendent. Tho plans had boon finally adopted, and had been forwarded to the board with a recommendation that tho work should bo put in hand at tho earliest possible moment. They could not tell what funds would bo in hand till after an appeal was made to the public, but they had been urged so often to, give tho public an opportunity to show their practical sympathy with tho need for a proper children's hospital that they recommended that the Mayor.be asked to call a public meeting for the purpose. Tho funds which would be raised in this way would no doubt bo augmented by a subsidy from the Government. Probably there would still be a deficiency for tho board to mako up, which would disorganiso its finances for some years to como, bt!.fc that could not be helped. The estimated cost of tho main building was closo on £6000, which the erection of the ophthalmic ward would incrcaso to £10,000, making, with the architect's fees, furnishing, and other expenses, a total not exceeding probably £ 12,000. Tho Rev. H. Van Staveren, in seconding the motion, said that the existing building was never ■ intended for a children's ward. It was meant originally for a convalescents' ward, and was •quite unsuited to its present purpose. He was quite convinced that tho public would como forward liberally in 'this cause. Mr. J. J. Dovino moved as an amendment that the question be referred to tho Finance Committee beforo tho Mayor was asked to call a meeting. This was tho regular course to pursuo, and he believed that the work could be financed without going to the public. Mr. B. R. Gardener seconded tho amendment. Mr. J. Trevor spoke in. favour of holding a public meeting. Mr. D. Robertson urged that tho board should go in a body to the Mayor and ask that a public meeting should bo held. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan supported tho' motion. Ho was opposed to any courso which would tend to dry up the springs of private benevolence. Mr. F. T. Moore was in favour of tho motion. Ho was confident that the public would respond liberally, and ho .had been told of individuals who wero prepared to givo as much as £100. Mr. D. M'Laren, M.r., thought that this was not a matter for private benevolence, but that tho ratepayers as a whole should contribute to the new children's hospital,, which was a public requirement. Mi-: Dovino withdrew his amendment, which, ho snid, he had moved only because ho always believed in conforming first of all to practice. The motion was then adopted unanimously.