A WARM DEBATE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 875, 22 July 1910, Page 4

A WARM DEBATE.

b HUTT VALLEY HOSPITAL oITE. "WHAT DID HE MEAN?" Considerable feeling was displayed by certain, members of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday afternoon when a report relating to tha purchase of the Hutt Valley Hospital site in 1906 was laid on the table. The report stated.that the land comprised fa™ acres near the Hutt Town Hall, and was purchased by the Wellington District Hospital Board—then consisting of Messrs.. J. P. Luke (chiarman), R. C. Kirk, J. Godber, G. Frost, M. Murdoch, R. B. Williams, and E. Bould—for .£IOOO. That: land was lying idle. The board had called', for tenders for leasing land for grazing: purposes, but it was subsequently ascertained that if let rates would have to be> paid amounting to more than the highest tender -received.' No further action was taken. During the Boom. Mr. Godber, speaking as a member of the board concerned in the purchase, said that the land had been bought at a tune when prices were booming, and it wafi seriously thought that if it were not then secured the greatest difficulty and expense would have - been incurred at a. later stage. The Government valuation was .£3500. Mr Van Staveren thought that Mr Loodon had urged the purchase of the land. Mr. London corrected this. He had urged that a site ought to be procured. Mr Van Staveren, continuing, suggested that' Mr. London had ultimately urged purchase of this particular site. Mr. London: 1 may .have done go. Mr. Van Staveren at this stage desired to make it quite cleaj that he cast no aspersions .on anyone. He moved that a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. Kirk, Godber, and London, be set up to report upon the best means of realising the property, with a view to building a children's hospital with the proceeds. The motion was seconded. "Dirty Insinuations." Mr. M'Ewan said that there seemed to I be a suggestion ' that something was ■ wrong Mr. Van Staveren: ! So there was. Mr. objected ,to thise "dbty insinuations." If there was something wrong, then let them have a straightout charge. Veiled references to "something crook" had been made. Those who made them should come out into the open and prove their statements. Personally, he thought the board should hold on to the property. Mr._ Gardener said (that as he understood th'ese 'insinuations, certain influences had been brought to bear On the board which .uid purchased the property. That charge should be proved. ThiSy had now to consider what was to be .done, and to discover what this mysteirious "something" was that had been dons. Personally, he thought that if the and Petone went in for a cottage ho.®ital they would regret it to their dying /lay. "Worth About £70 an Acre." Someone mentioned at ftkis stage that the valuation had been unchanged. The installation of the' borough system had also had the ett'ect of reducing the level of the soakage. Mr. Van Staveren said tlw land was worth about £70 an acre. Mr. London, with warmth r I'll give it—l'll give you .£IOO an acre, ' _. Mr. Kirk, speaking with some feeling, said that Mr. Van Staveren had, in the beginning, duly made such apology as .was expected from the tone of '.his first remarks. But he had, since that, giran the unmistakable impression tiiat he still thought that there' had been something wrong' about the purchase. _ What did ne mean? He must either withdraw or prove his charges. If these , were proved then he would esteem it his idnty, as well as the other members conoerned, to resign. Mr. Van Staveren protested that he had been misunderstood. He had charged nobody, had made not the slightest reflection upon any individual. What he did mean to say, and he still held to it, was that a huge mistake had been made in purchasing- a property against the advice of the doctor who was consulted. Further trouble seemed .imminent, bnt the chairman intervened, and put the question, which was carried.