PAEROA HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5275, 16 May 1928, Page 2

PAEROA HOSPITAL.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

BOARD MEMBERS SELECTED.

The deadlock that has arisen between the Thames Hospital Board and the Public Health Department with reference to the erection of the maternity and casualty hospital at Paer.oa was again the subject of lengthy discussion at a meeting of the board on Monday.

The matter was intifl'duced by the receipt - of a letter from the Ministci of Public Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) advising that in response to the board’s request he would be pleased to meet representatives of the boatjd at some, suitable locality. For the, present he could not see his way to arrange a visit to Thames. However, the board would be advised when next he was at Hamilton. The, c.hairman (Mr W. E. Hale) said that it would be necessary to appoint a committee to meet the Minister. To Mr E. L. Walton the chairman sa.id that the Minister might be persuaded to travel, as far as Paeroa. The chairman said that he would like an expression of opinion as to whether a committee should be ap" pointed oi; whether all. the board members should interview the Minister.

Mr C. W. Kennedy said.- that if it was not too expensive he would like to see the whole board wait on the Minister.

Mr Robinson moved,that the chairman and Messrs Danby, Walton, Kennedy, and Brenan fo'i(m the deputation to wait on the, Min’ster at Hamilton. Mr Danby thought that the deputation should not enter into a controversy as to the merits or demerits of. the case. It would be the deputation’s duty to’lay the policy of thei board before the Minister.

To Mr Brenan Mr Danby said that tlie policy was that the board did not consider the time opportune to proceed, with the erection of, the, Paeroa hospital.

■Mr Brenan. said that Mr Danby could not show that the'.board was consistent in its attitude. reminded Mr. Dhnby that the board in a resolution, of which Mr Danby had been the seconder, had. alreiady decided to build a hospital at Paeroa in wood. Mr Danby contended that he was no more inconsistent than a responsible officer of tihe Health Department who had ordered the Thames: Board to build thei Paeroa hospital in brick and yet had given permission to the Auckland Board to build an addition in wood.

. It was pointed out by Mr Brenan that they were not parallel cases. Mr Danby replied that he did not think it would be necessary to deteirminte the difference by a method that needed such microscopical intervention! as used in the two cases.

Mr Brenan : Thank you, Mr Danby ; you blind me with science. (Laughter.)

It was pointed out by Mr Kennedy that unless members were going to be allowed to interview tlie Minister and each state his own views on the mat* tc.q there was little- to be gained in waiting on the Minister. So far as- be eC'iild see, the chairman might as well go by himself and state the attitude of the majority of the board only.. The chairman replied that he was easy, but he wanted to reach finality. Mr Kennedy said that he was prepaid to second Mr Robinson’s resolution;.

Mr Lange suggested that the board should wait until the Minister could visit Thames, and then the whole board, could wait -on him. Mr Brenan said that it was usual, when seeking an interview with a M'nister of the Crown, foil deputations to tit in with his arrangements. The chairman agreed, and added, tliat should Hie Minister of Health find it convenient to come- into the board’s- district, then the, whole board could wait on him, otherwise it was. dt .sirable tha.t a deputation only should interview him. Af-tei; some discussion tlie resolution was carried, Mr' Lange being the oily dissentient.