WELLINGTON’S NEW HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 59, 3 December 1926, Page 18

WELLINGTON’S NEW HOSPITAL

FOUNDATION-STONE LAID A SPLENDID BUILDING SOME EARLY HISTORY The laying of the foundation etone of the new block of buildings for the Wellington Hospital Board, in order to bring the institution up to date, and on lines in keeping with scientific methods of modern treatment of the sick, took place yesterday. The Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, who laid the foundation stono, ■was presented by the contractors, the fletcher Construction Company, with a gold trowel, having a greenstone handle, ns a souvenir of the occasion. Members of the Hospital Board, of other local bodies, and of the medical profession, were present, and also a very large assemblage of the public. A Unique Occasion. Mr. C. M. Luke, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, in introducing the Minister, said that tho occasion was a unique one in tho history of the Hospital. It was recognised that the Hon. J. A. Young, not only as Minister of Health, but also by reason of his profession, training, and experience as a member recently of an important hospital board in the Waikato, was in close sympathy with the work of hospitai administration. Mr. Luke mentioned that the first hospital was established in Wellington in 1846, and contained 10 beds. Later on the hospital was rebuilt at Pipitea, ° n „ tho slte a n °Z occupied by the Girls' College, and remained there about twenty years. In 1878 the new one was erected on the present site, and accommodated about IOT beds. At that time Wellington was tho only training cAntra for nurses. It was also the nist hospital to adopt the eight-hour system of work in the nursing, department. Early in its career it gained a reputation for efficiency, and it had maintained it ever since. (Applause). As the population of the city, grew so did the institution, and additional wards were erected, the money for the Victoria Ward feeing raiseci by public subscription: also for the children’s hospital. The present building scheme had been suggested by the late superintendent. Dr. Woodhouse, and had also received the endorsement of the officer now in charge, Dr. D. M. Wilson, who had visited America in connection with the matter. ,;

Up-to-date Scientific Equipment. Mr. Luke added that while in some retrnecta Wellington may have .lagged be hind the other big hospitals- in the Dominion, the matter of scientific opera tire equipment—X-ray plant, deep therapy treatment, and radium treatment —the local hospital authorities had led the Dominion. Tho radium treat rnent plant had only been installed a few months, but already there had been S2O treatments, with the best results. In contributions and bequests, the funds of the hospital had gained, in the ten years from 1916-17 to 192.5-26, the sum of (£27,393, including the amount of .£11.043 raised for the radium fund. (Applause).

The Right and Proper Thing. The Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, in responding to the welcome, mentioned that as Minister of Health and also as chairman for gome time of the Waikato Hospital Board, he was /.miliar with the problems confronting those entrusted with the responsible work of hospital administration. The needs of an increasing population, and the progress of the community generally, meant more responsibility in that connection, and the old buildings must be brought up to date and modern and scientific equipment installed. There was not the least doubt that the Wei-

lington Board was doin'; the right and proper thing in the interests ~of hu--4 inanity and of the sick and the afflicted in making the extensive additions they sow before them that day in course of srectiop. (Applause.) He had inspected the old buildings quite recently, and referred to that portion where the house surgeons took their meals as "the limit." The board was to be heartily congratulated on the scheme it was carrying out to provide better accommodation for the staff, as well as the patients, in order to enable the best possible work to be done. Part of the scheme would include the provision of an up-to-date laundry at a cost of £34,000, by the utilisation and roconetruotion of the old match factory. The Minister proceeded to eulogise those men and women in the community who gave their services ungrudgingly to the work of the hospital boards, and other social service agencies, making for the amelioration of the let of the sick and distressed.

The Democratic Principle. Mr. Young continued: "I stand by Hw maintenance of tho free and representative character of our governing institutions in connection with tho administration of hospital affairs." (Applause.) The Minister paid a high tritrate to Mr. C. M. Luke, the chairman of the board, who had devoted the greater part of 36 years of a long life to hospital and other social service. “In Shis respect," said tho Minister, “your chairman has an outstanding record.” Eulogistic reference. was also made to the social service work rendered to the pommunity by the Rev. H. van Staveren. Mr. Young mentioned in terms of high praise the services rendered by the medical staff —both stipendiary and honorary—the nursing staff, "those ministering angels who are at work day and night." Here the Minister mentioned that quite recently he had had to go into a hospital for a time, having contracted a chill, and the nurses in that institution had won a very warm place in his heart, and he had recovered rather quicker than he really wanted to. the hospital and charitable aid expenditure, the Minister the State had to watch matters in that respect and see that a wise and prudent policy was adopted, otherwise the outlay might plunge ahead by leaps and bounds. On account of the scattered nature of the Now Zealand population, hospitals were required in many districts, leading to the idea that in that respect the Dominion was overburdened. That was not the case, however, but was rather a testimony to the humanitarian instincts of the people.

A Sound and Healthy Race. The Minister then declared the memorial stone well and truly laid, adding: "In laying the foundation stone of this magnificent building, which is to be used in connection with the care of the siek and to benefit the afflicted and Buffering of the community, I sincerely trust that the work which is done by the hospital boards, by the Health Department, and by all citizens who are engaged in social service for the betterment of humanity, will make for the building up of a sound and healthy race, because a nation’s greatness is founded on the health of its citizens." (Applause.) Dr. Valintine, Director-General of Health, congratulated the board on the splendid additions they were making to the hospital, which had done noble work for the community since its inception. The Department of Health, had to very carefully watch the economic position at the present time, and he looked to the boards to assist it by wise and prudent administration He also paid a warm tribute to the work of the chairman Mr. C. M. Luke. Other speakers were His Worship the Navor, Mr. C J. B. Norwood, who congratulated the hoard on the building programme which would, mean that Wellington would soon be in the proud position of having a hosnital that was second to none in New Zealand Dr. E. L. Marchant, chairman of the honorary medical and surgical .staff, expressed the pleasure they experienced in attending to the hospital want or the needy rick. With the improved conditions available in the new buildings they honed to ho able tn do more in that respect in the future. (Hear, hear). A vote of thanks was accorded the Minister and the Health Department, on

the motion of Mr. W. Appleton, seconded by the Rev. H. Van Staveren. Afternoon tea wae served in the ground floor of one of the new blocks.