PAEROA HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5286, 13 June 1928, Page 2

PAEROA HOSPITAL.

BOARD’S VIEW OF THE -AUTTBR* PRESENT TIME INOPPORTUNE. Referring t.o the result of the conference held tit Hamilton bn May 30, when a deputation of representatives of the Thames Hospital Board waited on the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, in connection with the erection of a maternity and casualty hospital at Paeroa, members at Monday’s meeting of the board indulged in some straight talk. The chairman (Mr W. E. Hate) opened the discussion by stating that the Minister had confirmed the instructions of the Director-General of Hearth (Dr. T. H. A. Valintine) that the hospital was to be erected by the beard, failing which the department would be reluctantly compelled to undertake the work and recover the money from the board. Continuing, the chairman said that he was'disappointed with the Minister. Members of the deputation had placed a good case before the Hon. J. A. Young, but it appeared to him that the Minister had taken littlie, notice of what was stated, asi his mind was apparently made up as to his decision prior to receiving the deputation. The chairman said, that he totally disagreed with the Minister that the Dominion was entering upon a new era of prosperity. He knew sufficient of farming conditions and the position of primary producers to say that instead of prosperity there, was only a faint gteam in the distant future. In his opinion the board should let the Director-General carry out what, he had stated he was reluctant to do, and allow the department to build the hospital. In his opinion no harm could be done or hardship imposed if the Pa.eroa hospital, was held over for twelve month® or so. HEAVY COST OF MAINTENANCE. Once .again Mr J. W. Dauby referred to the heavy cost of maintenance that would be forced on the ratepayers if the hospital was erected, and s;a,id that he agreed with the remarks of the chair,man. He maintained that if the board sent a taxi to Paeroa and brought every expectant mother to the Thames annexe and treated her free for, a fortnight, then gave her three weeks’ hoi? day free at the Coast, provided a taxi to take her home to Paeroa, and presentee} her with £3 3s towards.. providing ;a, “trousseau for ba.by,” a saving could be made for the ratepayers. The time, he said, was most inopportune for a hospital, at Paeroa. and after considering the project carefully and impartially in the interests of the board’s ratepayers he would move :—

“ In view of the period of financial depression which is very severely felt by the farming. community in the board’s district, a.nd realising that the proposal to build a hospital at Paeroa will! entail for maintenance a heavy additional rating liability on raepayers, the board cannot see its way clle-ar to proceed with the building of a hospital! at Paeroa, as requested by the Direcor General of Health and respectfully submits the, opinion that no hardship will, be inflicted on any part of the board’s district if the, proposal is deferred until conditions arc more- favourable aiffi, the time, more opportune.”

The chairman seconded the resolution.

BOARD “ BEATING THE AIR.”

The resolution brought Mr E- L. Walton to his feet, and he opened hi s remarks by saying that he had noticed the chairman looking at h/m to state his views. Mr Walton said he agreed that the hospital was not warranted at the present time, and in his opinion nothing new had been placed before the Minister by the deputation. Where lie thought the board was. making a mistake, and “merely beating the air,” was. in the fact that the Miifster had been asked to receive a deputation, which he had done, .and ■now the board was not prepared to abide by the decision of the Minister, at that conference. In lite opinion the board was adopting a wrong policy in. forcing the department to build the hospital. As sensible men they should be prepared to act whep the Minister gave his final! decision. It Was merely a. waste of time and formality to force the department and allow it to collect the money. AMALGAMATION WITH WAIHI. Continuing, Mr Wallton said that there was one, pliaise of the conference wh'ch 1 the chairman, had not mentioned; nor had the Press reported it. The Minister had given an assurance that during his term of office he would not force tlie Thames Board to amalgamate with Waihi. That assurance w.os of great importance to the Thames Board. In conclusion Mr Walton said that he wished >t to-be clearly understood that he would not vote in favour of the erection of a hospital! ait. Paeroa, but neither would he oppose it. GO-SLOW POLICY. Judging by the decision given, by the Minister, the board would have to build the hospital,, said Mr C. W. SFlett, but in h’s opinion Hie board should adopt a go-slow policy and build it in its own time. MINISTER’S RESPONSIBILITY. The next speaker was, Mr C. W. Parfitt, who said that he was sorry he couldi not agree with his colleague, Mr, Walton. The prcfposal to build tlie hospital had now been forced upon the board, and he considered) that the onus of erection and all responsibility should be placed' upon the Minister of Health in view of his decision. He could not believe that such an outrage on democracy would be perpetrated. He was in favour of the resolution. USELESS TO QUIBBLE. Referring to the resolution, Mr C. W. Kennedy said that Mr Danby had not stated to the 'Ml’iniste-r that a hospital at Paeroa iwas not warranted, but merely said that the time for its erection, was not opportune. The only sensible thing now for the board to do was to accept the Minister’s decision with the best grace possible and proceed with the erection forthwith. He was not in favour, of forcing the

department to do it and the board lose its money. In his opinion it was use. less to go on quibbling any further. CONGRATULATIONSThe last speaker was Mr P. E. Brenan, who said that it would be idUe for him to prolong the. discussion, as nothing he could say would alter, the opinions of the members. However, he felt that the advocates for the hospital were in a fortunate, position by reason of the Minister’s decision yet at the same time he desired congratulate his opponents on the hard fight they had put up ; but ii.n his opiiiion they were working op en. tirely wrong lines. He assured, the members that the Paeroa hospital was warranted, and should be erected without further delfay. Sb far as the hardship, he could not agree that it would be nearly as great as Mr Danby had made out. The town of Paeroa was centrally situated, and a. hospital there would serve the needs of a wide area and a large number of people. The Minister had given his decision, and he sincerely hoped that the board . would, follow the right course and' build the hospital, instead of forcing the work on to the Health Department. RESOLUTION CARRIED. There being no amendment, the chairman put the resolution, which was declared carried bp the showing of hands. The voting was: For, Messrs Hale, Danby, Flfett, Parfitt, Hall ; against, Messys Brenan, Kennedy, and Robinson. Mr Walton did not vote.