PAEROA HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5039, 13 October 1926, Page 2

PAEROA HOSPITAL.

AMENDED PLANS SUBMITTED.

ERECTION FURTHER DELAYED.

The erection of the maternity and casualty hospital at Paeroa seems as far off as ever it did. At the meeting of the Thames Hospital Board on Monday the project aga n received a further set-buck at the hands of the Thames and Hauraki Plains members. of the board.

The subject was introduced by the Director-General of Health writing in connection with the matter of reducing the cost of the building. With a view to keeping faith .with the board in keeping down the expenditure, as. promised, the department had cut out the verandah accommodation, which would mean a; saving of approximately £3OO. It was pointed .out by Dr. Valintine that verandah accommcdation was not essential for a maternity hospital. A draft plan was forwarded for the board’s consideration, the estimated cost being £5OOO. If suitable the department would proceed with working plans and specifications to enable tenders to be called.

The chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) said the plan had only arrived that morning, but on a cursory look at it the building appeared to be well laid out.

Mr C. W. Kennedy asked how the finances for the building were getting

The chairman replied that all the money should be in hand by March 31 next. The rate for the purpose had been spread over two years.

Prefacing his remarks, Mt P. E. Brenan said that the receipt of the plan and the letter from the DirectorGeneral that day reminded him of the hymn “Nearer my God to Thee.” The amended plan appeared to be all right, but did not compare with the one submitted by Mr Gillman. Foir the sake of saving £3OO on such a big job, Mr Brenan said it seemed a great pity not to include the verandah accommodation ajid at the same time ad,d to the appearance of the hospital, in view of .the fact that the board’s ratepayers wo'uld be called npon to find only a small proportion of the cost of erection, and the prominent position on which the building was being placed, he would urge that the verandah be included. He hoped thut the beard would call tenders as early as possible and not drag the matter on any longer. The ■ chairman said that it would first be necessary to rescind previous resolutions. There would also be the architect’s fees, to pay, and such matters required cleaning up. Mr Brenan sa,id he thought the position was clear because the department had never sanctioned the building in wood. The chairman reiterated that the architect wag entitled to payment for preparing the plans for the wooden building and the calling of tenders. Mt C. W. Kennedy said that there was no need to waste time. Every member of the board must recognise that the building had to be erected. The Director-General, when on a visit to Thames, had told the board that it would have, to erect the building, and he hoped the board would show its sincerity by calling tenders at once. Mr J. Rowe moved that the former resolutions and contract be rescinded and the deposit returened to the tenderer. This was seconded by Mr W. J. Hall and carried. PLAINS MEMBERS OBJECT. Mr E. L. Walton que.s,loned whether tho board should go on with the building at the present time. The time was not opportune for .the board to face such a heavy expense. He could quite understand the Paeroa district members advoc-ajiing the hospital, but there was the farming community on the Hauraki Plains to be considered. The present was a time of stringency so far as the farmers weire concerned, and i.t was desirable to avoid burdening them in every way possible. It was a time when economy should be practiced. There was also the question of the iaunalgamat on. of the Waihi hospital district with Thames which, if effected, would mean additional expense and put a different aspect on matters. Mi- Walton then moved to the effect that in view of the financial stringency the building of the. Paeroa hospital be deferred until the suggested Waihi amalgamation wefr disposed Of. Mr J. Lange seconded the motion. The chairman said he agreed with the resolution in view of the fact that Waihi was “hanging over their heads.” The department had given an assurance to the Waihi people th'a,t in the event of amalgamation their hospital would retain Its present status. If that eventuated it would mean a heavy expense for Thames to shoulder. He did not wish to appear unduly pessimistic, but the farmers were un-. doubtedly having a lean time, apd the present indications for the future prospects were anything but bright. It was agreed that the Paerola hospital would never pay its way, and at a conservative estimate it would cost £lOOO a year to maintain. If it was only a matter of erecting the building he would be In favour of going straight ahead with the work. There was also another phase that should not be lost /sight of, and that was an extension or alteration of the Thames hospital district.

Speaking to the resolution, Mr C. W. Parfitt said that th-e Hauraki Plains was contributing about 40 per cent, of the contributions each quarter, which meant nearly 13s per capita for maintenance, as aganst contributions of about 50 per- cent. lesp-. Taking into consideration the serious outlook for dairy produce and farming, he thought it wise and a proper course tb follo-w to defer- action.

MR. KENNEDY SPEAKS OUT.

This brought Mr Kennedy to his feet. He said that the board wo'uld be made a laughing stock if tenders were not called and the building erected. The cost to ratepayers of buildings running into thousands of pounds sterling had never been considered so long as they were erected at Thames. People were entitled to facilities, and the Paeroa district people had shdwn