DUNEDIN'S REQUEST

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 5

DUNEDIN'S REQUEST

A request for a Government contribution towards the cost of a new obstetric hospital at Dunedin, to serve both as a maternity centre- and training ground for students, was asked for. by a deputation of Otago and Dunedin members of Parliament which waited upon the Minister of Finance (the Rt. iloi\. J. G. Coates) and the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) on Thursday. Mr. Young indicated that if the Dunedin Hospital' Board would submit to him its building and financial proposals in some detail, he would be prepared to give them careful consideration and decide whether it was better to build tho new hospital and close down tlio two existing institutions —the St. Helens Home and the Batehclor Home. Sir James Allen said that the maximum estimate for the building submitted by the board had been £25,000. Tho Health Department's estimate for the cost of making necessary additions to St. Helens in place of the new hospital had been increased from £7000 to £8000. Tho Dunedin Savings Bank had passed a resolution granting £1000 to the hospital provided it was built on the site approved by tho Hospital Board. The Minister of Employment had promised to provide #3000 towards the building of the hospital, which reduced the cost to £22,000. Sir James suggested that it would be wiser for the Government to erect the hospital now rather than put up additions to a building which would require alteration within a few years. Ho thought that £8000 or £10,000 might bo placed on the Estimates this year and the balance provided in 1934. In the course of his reply Mr. Young said that the question was solely one of finance, provided that the board could satisfy.the Government that it could carry out all the work required for an expenditure of, say, not moro than £20,000 from the national Treasury. He thought tho board should provide 50 per cent, of the cost of tho essential services which it was its duty to give to the community. The training of students was the responsibility of the Government.