PAEROA HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4953, 19 March 1926, Page 1

PAEROA HOSPITAL.

SUPPORT FROM N’ETHERTON.

HOSPITAL BOARD CRITICISED-

At a meeting of settlers of Netherton held, at .the public hall on Tuesday the opportunity was taken to discuss the attitude adopted by the Thames Hospital Board with regard to the erection of the hospital at Paeroa. The views of the meeting were placed before Mr A- M. Samuel, M.P.. by Mr T. Vo-wles, president of the Ratepayers’ Association, who- briefly traced the history dt .the collection of money for the purpose of erecting the hospital to the memory of Nurse Pennell. The speaker said .that the attitude of the Thames people was very unjust, and he could not -understand! why .the board should ,have gone back on the promise made.

Mr H. J. Hare supported the remarks of the president, and said that while some of the members of the I-laiiraki Plains County Council were strongly opposed to the erection of thfe building he ha,d used his best endeavours to break down that opposition. Mr J A. Reid moved: “That Mr Samuel be asked to use his best endeavours to- have the erection of the Paeroa hospital proceeded witjh.”

’ Mr C. Stembridge seconded the motion.

In reply Mr Samuel said that it was not the flnst time -he. had been approached on .the matter. The. -hospital had been promised, ' and that promise would be fulfilled by the Department of Health. He said that the members of the Tnames board opposed to the project were holding themselves, up to ridicule and criticism. • A promise had been made and should ..'never have been bfok-en. The Hon. M. Pomare had authorised .the erection, of the hospital, and later his successor, the'Hon. J. A. Young, when approached .on the matter had stated that he saw 1 no reason why the Health Department should go back on its word. However, he would be pleased to pla,ce the matter before the Minister on returning to Wellington, and hoped the erection ,of the hospital would soon reach fruition.