HUTT VALLEY'S NEED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1924, Page 5

HUTT VALLEY'S NEED

BRANCH OF MAIN HOSPITAL

URGENT AND MATERNITY j 1 CASES

DEPUTATION5 TO THE BOARD.

i Arguments in favour, of the establishment of a maternity home and cottage Hospital in thjp Hutt Valley, in order to deal with urgent cases, were placed before a special meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board yesterday; afternoon by a large deputation, representing the residents of the Valley. t The deputation consisted of leading public men of Petone and Lower Hutt, and several clergymen. Mr. F. Castle presided at the meeting, and there were also present: — Messrs. J. H. Bertram, J. W. Butler, D; Campbell, ,C. H. Chapman, W. Cole,

A. E. Hornblow, C. M. Luke, A. J. M'Curdy, C. B. Robinson, C. A': Williamson, the Revs. J. K. Elliott and Hi Tan Staveren, and Mrs. A. M'Yicar. ' ; jMr. W. T. Strand, Mayor of Lower Hutt, said that the members of the deputation came as a ' united1, body, representing every portion of the Hutt Valley, which covered about 15,000 acres. -4t the present; time they had a population of 20,000, the larger proportion of which were residents of Petone and tower Hutt. Although they were making certain requests, he wished to make it quite clear that they were not'wishing in any way to secede from the Welling-

ton Board's district. There had been suggestions from time to time that they should have hospital, accommodation,'df their ownj but' he thought it 'would be ai mistake to attempt . that. They thought it was better to remain part and parcel of the main hospital district than

attempt to form small districts. What they were asking was that the board would give a greater measure of consideration to the district which the deputation1 represented. ' .The nearest portion of the'Hwtt Valley would always be at l^ast. ten miles from -the Wellington. Hospital,-? and, for-many reasons, 'they thought that-'it "was most desirable that they shbuH have a branch of themain institution to serve the district. ■■WHAT THE PKOPOSALS ARE.

\At a meeting, held on..Bth January, it had been. unanimously decided to ask the board for^a well-equipped" maternity home on the lines of the St. Helens Homes. The number of births registered in the Hutt and Petone during the last twelve, months had been 300, which figure did not include Eastbourne. They felt that a maternity home, should be established and.i-un under'-vthe direct control of the Wellington Hospital Board. The home should be built in^the best possible surroundings, for they surely could not do too much for'those who were bearing the burden of the country for years to come. It cost something over £40 to bring an immigrant from overseas,, and he felt that one qhild born in the Do- ~ minion was worth, two that .were imported from overseas. In addition, they •were asking for a modem cottage hospital, which would be attached, or ilosely connected with the i St. Helens Hospital. They did not ask for a: big' ' institution, but merely for something that would serve the "district for accident and most urgent cases. Further, they 4 felt that it would be desirable to have a doctor from the Wellington Hospital visiting the district at intervals, in Order that residents requiring medical' ■ advice would not have to visit Wellington. They thought they, had a very strong moral claim on the support of the board. ' '•;.

A LITTLE NEST EGG.

,•■ Mr.'J. W. M'Ewen, Mayor of Petorie, said that the proposal was not a new one, and the present was not the first deputation from the Hutt Valley. In view of the number of patients from the Valley and the share of the Valley in levies, they were entitled' to a big say in the administration of the hospital, as far as ■ their district was' concerned. The last time they were before the board their request had been for a site, and they had been successful in getting that. They./still had it, and,'as a matter of fact, 'they could not get rid of it. He suggested that the board might1 obtain authority to sell tliat property. He added that the board should not lose sight of the fact that the Petone Borough Council had money for the purpose of •tarting. a cottage hospital. / Mr. C. M. Luke: "How much?" Mr. M'Ewen: "I can't remember exiactly." :. ■■■ •"....-;■/,..,. Mr.'Luke: "Hundreds or Ihousands?" Mr. .M'£weH:":^ou;may take it for grantedvthat.ifc's; not in ..thousands." Mr. 'Castle: „!'You're.'i-not'; bribing us, are you?" (Laughter.) ' ' lt .Mr- that the minimum that the/residents'. of fee Valley would expect was ward. He thought that the board'liad. a "duty to.perform in making some provision for the- residents. .'•..••. :•: . . ■

QUESTION OFi:VISITING.

The Eeyi W^Jjovire.-staged, that many cases could^be cif&'d where recovery troni an illness had ''bieii-prolonged/; and Where lives had been lost : because* it had'-'been

necessary on account'of the severe nature of the/illnessy to.send the patient into Wellington tor treatment. The need for an institution in the' Valley was very urgent. Not only had/they to, consider the needs of the patients, but they had to consider also the iriehds and relations or the afflicted: ..They had'to depend on the tram services, which at present' did SSS,- ™ with the. visiting hours at the Wellington Hospital. He hoped the members of .the board would realise the lieed'of a cottage hospital in the Val-

in reply to Mr. Busier, Mr. Strand said that-he did not think that itwould: be.fair if an extra* levy were struck in order to help in the cost of the proposed D jWlu bull ding- Mr- Strand further stated that he did not think it at all likely that there would be any .wrangle over the site, if the board decided to meet the -requests of the deputation. In the course •of a brief reply, the chairman of the board said that the deputation had stated its case very fairly and. very, clearly, and their repreBentaboto. would certainly • receive the full-consideration of- the board ■ He did not think that they would look upon the matter from a purely, £ s. d. point of view, -they were too-broadmihded for that; but, of course, the financial aspect would have to be considered In regard to the suggestion., that a doctor might be out to\the Hutt at intervals ha said that he thought out-patients woujd find it more convenient to be treated at the main hospital. Outpatients could not bo successfully treated in a, small room. The chairman "favoured *°e i ,l.???-,« setting up a .committee* of iiutt .Valley residents for the purpose of assisting the board in its deliberations and .undertook to acquaint Mr. btrand of any developments Mr. Strand thanked the-members of the hoard for their patient hearing- of the views expressed, and 'the deputation then withdrew. ' ■