COLLEGE WANTED BACK

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 247, 20 October 1942, Page 4

COLLEGE WANTED BACK

HOSPITAL BOARD NOTIFIED HEALTH DIRECTOR SEEKS INFORMATION. WARD ELOCK STILL PROCEEDING. A letter from the Marlborough College Board of Governors received by the Hospital Board yesterday advised that the Director-General of Health had been notified of the Board s intention to resume occupation of the College for teaching purposes as from the beginning of the first term in February, 1943. The chairman (Mr A. J. H. Gavin) moved that the letter be received. The reply by the Director of Education to the College Board had stated that the whole matter was under consideration between the two departments. "In my opinion they are the proper people to deal with it," he added. Mr Bent had stated the views of the Hospital Board quite correctly to the Board of Governors, he proceeded. However, a statement had been made at that meeting to the effect that work had ceased on the new ward and administration block at the Wairau. That was an absolutely incorrect statement as work had been proceeding there the whole of the time. The motion was carried. "A letter has been received from the Director of Education covering a letter from the Marlborough College Board which conveys their fear that the accommodation which is being provided at the Wairau Hospital may be insufficient to allow the College buildings to be returned at the commencement of the 1943 school year," stated a letter received from the Director-General of Health. The Director asked that, in order to facilitate a reply, he be supplied with the average number of beds occupied in the College each month that it had been opened, the maximum number of patients each month and any comments that the Board might care to make. The secretary (Mr G. Mitchell) said that the number of occupied beds for the six months had been 59.3. In February the number had been 22, in March 22, in April 24, May 58, June 52, July 75, August 87, and September 55. The highest number in the hospital at any one time had reached a peak of 99 in August. Replying to Mr W. Kennington, the secretary said the number of patients had fallen off considerably during this month. — V