MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4596, 10 August 1923, Page 2

MATERNITY HOSPITAL

MATTER AGAIN DEFERRED. » DISCUSSION AT BOARD MEETING. Matters in connection with the proposed maternity home and casualty ward at Paeroa were dsicussed at a meeting of the Thames Hospital Board on Wednesday last. The subject was introduced by a letter from Mi- E. W. Porritt to the board’s solicitors giving the proposals to be submitted to the Supreme Court by the Ohinemuri Hospital trustees authorising them to hand over their assets the Thames Hospital Board for the purpose of erecting a maternity and casualty hospital at Paeroa. They requested the board to agree to the various clauses set out in the scheme to be submitted, and requested that a declaration to that effect be signed. The second clause provided that, in the event of the proposed maternity home and branch hospital being at any time closed up, or the use thereof discontinued, the assets shall revert to the Paeroa Borough Council. The chairman said that the matter had been before the board for several years. He had previously seen the letter, and had asked the board’s solicitor for an opinion on the proposed clauses. This was satisfactory. Mr Hall said that the position was satisfactory, and the request should be granted. Mr Hale said it would be tying the hands of future boards. Paeroa had contributed £1450, and the cost of a maternity hospital would be considerably more. The difference would have to be found by the whole of the board’s area. Mr Robinson said that for years the Ohinemuri County had been the largest contributor to the Thames Hospital. Mr Kennedy said that the £1459 had been contributed by the people of Paeroa and district, rend it was right' that Paeroa should have the say in the event of the institution ever being closed. The secretary stated that the Minister of Health had said that the whole of the money must, be given to the Thames Hospital Board unconditionally, otherwise no subsidy coukl be granted. Mr Brenan moved that the board approve the scheme,, and •'■hat the secretary sign the document as requested. The gift, he said, was an unconditional one, but. the second clause was not worded as he would like. The Attorney-General had, however, approved of the proposal. Mr Kennedy said that if the Department was agreeable to the declaration the board should not quibble. He seconded the motion. The minutes of the board on ths matter were read by the secretary. The chairman said that the matter had been in abeyance for some time. He desired to see the proposal gone on with, but the delay had been caused at the Paeroa end. Mr Danby said that he would up- ' hold the previous resolutions of the board. The board’s solicitor had said that the gift was not an unconditional on", and in his opinion the clause should be altered. Mr Porritt at a meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce had also said that the gift was not an unconditional one. The board and the Government would contribute the largest amount. The board was committed by resolution, and in the event of dissolution aIL should share equally in the assets. Paeroa would receive the major benefit during the time the hospital was | in operation. Mr Kennedy said that Paeroa had put up the money and should be considered. As the clause stopd the proposals were likely to be turned down by the Government. Mr McKay supported Mr Danby. Mr Hall said he wished to support the matter, but the previous resolution said that the gift should be unconditional., . Mr Hale said that Paeroa had put up the money., and the request should be granted. He thought the conditions should be slightly amended. Mr Kennedy said that Paeroa members had supported all the improvements to the Thames Hospital without quibbling. Mr Hall said that he would vote against the motion. He was in favour, of the proposal, but at. a conference Dr Valintine had said that a subsidy would not. be available unless the gift was an unconditional one. Mr Robinson said that the Ohinemuri district had been the largest contributing district for 30 years, and had never asked for anything up to the present. The board should not turn down their first request, Mr Brenan said that if the proposed hospital cost more than the amount contributed together with the subsidy Ohinemuri would have to bear its share of the balance. The clause was part of the original deed drawn up in 1897. Mr Danby asked whether it was not possible to refer the matter back to the Ohinemuri people to have the clause deleted. Mr Brenan said that this was not possible. Mr Hale said that he would like to come to an amicable decision. He would like to see Paeroa get its 1 maternity hospital. It appeared that the clause would not be approved of by the department in its present form, and he would like to see ii, deleted. In regards to Ohinemuri’s contribution, he pointed out that Hanraki Plains would be the largest contributor in the next 30 years. Mr Brenan pressed to have his motion put to the meeting. Mr Danby raised a point of order. The motion would be contrary to a previous resolution on the books. Mr Robinson said that a notice of motion was required. Air Brenan said that the conditions had been approved by the AttorneyGeneral, and in his opinion that was sufficient evidence that the proposal was in order. After much discussion the chairman ruled upholding the point of order. Mr Robinson gave notice of motion to rescind the previous resolution nn the matter. Mr Brenan said that this would be

delaying the matter for a month. It had taken nine months to get a date fixed for a hearing at the Supreme Court. Much argument- ensued on procedure until Mr Danby agreed to withdraw his point of order. He still thought it held, but by doing this the opinion of the board could be obtained. On the motion being put Messrs Brenan, Robinson, and Kennedy voted for and Messrs Berney, McKay, Baker,—'' Danby, and Hall against. Mr Danby then suggested that clause 2 be amended by the town members and submitted to the country members before the next meeting. What was required was something to protect the board. In reply to Mr Brenan, Mr Danby said that he would be agreeable to the Paeroa Borough Council taking over the assets, in the event 'of the hospital being closed, at valuation. In the event of the hospital being sold the proceeds would be divided pro rata between the Paeroa people, the Board, and the Government. Mr Brenan said that he .was sure that this would be accepted. It was decided that an amended clause 2 should be drawn up by the board, submitted to the Paeroa repre- v sentatives, and returned as soon as ’ possible, so that it could go before the Supreme Court on the date set dow.