A MISUNDERSTANDING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4729, 25 July 1924, Page 3

A MISUNDERSTANDING.

PROPOSER KEREPEEHI HOSPITAL

MONEY FOR SITE OR BUILDING? A misunderstanding appears to have arisen in regard to the proposed Kerepeehi hospital. Some time ago the people of Kerepeehi collected the sum of £145 Is, being half the amount required to purchase the section set aside at that township as au hpspital site. Efforts were then made by the committee and by the Thames Hospital Board to obtain a pound for pound subsidy, but these met with a flat refusal.

However, the matter was not let drop, and on July 4 the Dii’ectp!Geueial of Health wrote to the Hospital Board stating that he had advised Mr Booth, as representing the residents of Kerepeehi, to hand over to the board the inonieg collected foi the purpose of purchasing a site in Kerepeehi to be used ultimately for the erection of a maternity home thereon. He suggested for Hie consideration of the board the erection of a maternity hospital at Keiepeehi .P accommodate not less than two oi more than four maternity patients, the hospital in question to be sued only for maternity cases. The department would be glad to give the board plans for a maternity home suitable for the Kerepeehi district. On the same date Dr. Valintine also wrote to Mr W. Booth, secretary of the Kerepeehi Hospital Site Committee, stating that by direction of the Hon. die Minister for Health it had been decided to pay a subsidy on account of monies collected by the residents of Kerepeehi. These monies were to be handed over to the Thames Hospital Board. The Department appreciated the efforts of the settlers very much, and had suggested to the Hospital Board that a maternity home for not more than four patients be erected at Kerepeehi. The Hospital Board, therefore, did not know that the subsidy for the purchase of the land-had been granted, and in view of previous correspondence was of the opinion that it would not be forthcoming. Members therefore expressed the opinion that the suggestion that a maternity annex be built was a little premature. The Kerepeehi people, not knowing that the Hospital Board had not been advised that the subsidy had been granted, at a recent meeting expressed astonishment and indignation at the remarks made by certain members of the board and carried a.resolution emphatically protesting against any delay in the erection of a maternity annex on the site recommended al Kerepeehi, and also that Messrs Danby. Miller, and Hale, of the Hospital Board, be written to expressing •astonishment at the attitude adopted by them in a ease of such urgent necessity

The committee was also instructed to use every endeavour to secure the suggested maternity home.