MINISTERIAL VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1929, Page 3

MINISTERIAL VISIT

HON. J. STALIWORTHY (MINISTER OF HEALTH).

INSPECTION OF WESTLAND HOSPITAL.

The Hon. J. Stall worthy, Minister of Health, who passed through Hokitika on Saturday morning, wont on to Wolieka, arriving in the afternoon. A visit was paid to Fox Glacier, and next day the return was made to Waiho, and Franz Josef glacier was visited. Yesterday morning the party

lelft for .Hokitika, a stop being made at Lake Mapourika for a short period, and thence on to Hokitika, with short stays on the way. Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., accompanied the Minister.

Jn the afternoon a visit of inspection was made to Westland Hospital, where Messrs Breeze (President), Davidson, Wells, Jeffries, and Elcock ( members) were in attendance. Together with Dr Baird and Matron Lloyd an inspection was made of the hospital and its surroundings, afternoon tea then being provided for the visitors.

The members : off the Board then met the -Minister as a deputation. Mr J. O’Bridn,' M.P., formally extended a welcome to the Minister and introduced the deputation.. Mr Breeze presented a.request for a grant for £203 for necessary additions to the Maternity Home, stressing the request with a number of figures hearing on the subject. Lie was supported by Messrs Davidson and Wells and Mr O’Brien.

Hon. Stallworthy thanked these present for the kindly welcome given, expressing his pleasure to meet them. He had come down to the West Coast as a matter of duty, lie wanted a personal knowledge of the men Jind women who were doing such valuable service throughout New Zealand. Personal knowledge was required if a proper appreciation of the requests made was to lie secured. He had come down at the- express wish of Mi O’Brien and was glad he had done so. There was not a second of his visit that had not been crammed with interest. Previously lie had not seen this part of Westland. Hero they had something that is truly magnificent. He had seen world famous sights in all parts of America and Europe, hut lie franly admitted, that in South Westland there was something that was unsurpassed in the world. He was quite satisfied that as time goes on they will have an' intensive stream of tourists to various parts of this country. They had very great potentialities which lie was hopeful to he able to , achieve now that they had had Sir Joseph Ward, who was the first Tourist Minister, again at the head of that Department. A reference was made to his modelling his career from the politics of the late Sir Bcdclon, with whom his (Mr S.tallworthy’s) father had served in Parliament.

Referring to the application for a grant he said he would look into the request and do his utmost in theii .favour. He was satisfied that local management is the best. He had been told of -Mr Davidson’s good work, and appreciated that it must have saved the Board and Government many hundreds of pounds. He mentioned that since he had been Minister requests to his Department had totalled over five millions, while Jfor Mental Hospitals alone the capital expenditure this year asked for amounted to £49G,000. The claim made by the Board seemed a very reasonable one and he would do his utmost for them.

Mr Davidson referred to the National Provident Fund as affecting nurses and asked lor consideration foi an improvement in regard to compensation. The Minister stated that his interest in the cause oT the nurses was absolutely sincere and his endeavours were to improve the conditions ol work. The matter brought forward, however, was a very, involved one as : • affected the whole of the civil service, and to make any alteration would involve a very difficult problem. Air O’Brien stated that the Minister desired to bring before the Board the request of residents off Hnrihari and, Alatainui for £I,OOO to build a resi-; deuce at Harihan for the resident doctor. The doctor had to get out of his present residence and there was no other one avialable. The residents desired to keep him in the district, hence the request. . Hon. Stallworthy stated Mr 0 Bncn had stated the position, but the matter must he dealt with through the Board. The residents were agreeable to make $ bond to pay interest, sinking (fund and maintenance costs. II this were done then for £SOO, then the Government would find £SOO, £ foi £• and so the position could he met, the deeds of the property to be vested in the Board. . <• After discussion Air Breeze said he was in favour of this course and would place the matter before the Board foi approval. The Minister intimated that he would reply to the deputation to this effect and would leave it in the Boaid fhands to give effect to. Ah- Wells referred to the laundry at the Hospital and expressed regret that a duplicate plant was being erected at Mental Hospital when the Westland Hospital plant was fully able to carry out all the work of the two institutions. Other members spoke in a similar strain. The Minister said he would look into the matter on his return to AV ellington and let the Board have the facts from the Departmental viewpoint. Air Breeze thanked the Minister for bis reception of the deputation and the proceedings terminated.