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

their liberal support in obtaining 3 hospital, and it should not be denied them. The Director-General had given the board to clearly understand that if it did not build the hospital, then the department would do sot The members were only “beating the air” and wasting time with futile arguments. Every member had supported a wooden building for Paeroa, and if the department had agreed to wood the hospital would have been erceted and revenue-earning long ago. Because the department had stipulated brick or concrete some of the members had opposed the scheme. He could not understand such inconsistency, and thought there must be “more in it than meets the Mr Rowe said that, as previously, he was in favour of Paeroa having its hospital. The board ha.d promised the hospital, and the department and Minister had said that the work should proceed. Even supposing it was. a white elephant, and most hospitals were, so far as revenue producing was concerned, the board had committed itself to Paeroa and he failed to see how it could withdraw.

The chairman said that a promise might have been given, but times had since changed considerably, and a man who would change his mind was a wise one. In his opinion the hospital was not warranted at the present juncture.

Mr W. J. Hall said that he had always supported a hospital for Paeroa, and he saw no reason why he should change his mind. The department had been reasonable, and ha.d met the board in every way in the matter. A promise had been made by the board, and the board was in duty bound td fulfil it.

Mr A. R. Robinson said that the board had certainly pledged its word to the people of Paeroa and district, and those people looked to the members to keep their word. He could not see why the building should be delayed any longer.

Mr Brenan .then moved as- an amendment, “That this, board approves of the draft plan before the meeting, and requests the. department to call tenders for the work of erection as early as possible.” Mr Kennedy seconded.

Mr Brenan ajlded that he appreciated the remarks of Messrs Walton and Parfitt, but suggested that as' they were new members they did not know of the past history of the proposed hospital. The land had been found by the Paeroa people, in addition to a large sum of money, and they were entitled to have what ha.d been promised and ,what they desired and had worked for.

On the amendment being put Messrs Brenan, Hall, Rowe, Robinsdn. and Kennedy voted for it, while the chairman and Messrs Walton, Parfitt, Lange, and Danby voted agajnlSt. On the resolution being put the voting wa,s. again even, the .supporters being the chairman and Messrs Walton, Parfitt, Lange and Danby. The chairman exercised his casting vote in favour of the resolution, which was declared carried.