TAKAKA COTTAGE HOSPITAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 1 September 1942, Page 3

TAKAKA COTTAGE HOSPITAL

(To the Editor) Sir, —The opening of the above hospital is an event out of the ordinary for the Takaka district, and 1 am sure that the local Town Board and County Council realising this, will not let the occasion go by without doing justice to it. Naturally, the local governing bodies are the proper authorities to move in the matter, and in doing so they will be carrying out the wishes of 100 per cent of the population of the district. It i.s true that some people have been against the measure. This is only as it should be. Unanimity on any question is impossible except in countries where individual opinion may | not be expressed. In a British com- j munity opposition is regarded as ( healthy and desirable, and bespeaks the | freedom we enjoy. When, however, controversy lias rc j solved itself into concrete fact. then, op position—without “loss of face”—natur- : ally moulds itself into approval and co 1 operation for the common good. This j too, is only as it should be: for such is | the'genius of our birthright—the herit- ; age we enjoy. And I am confident that | this grand old British spirit we arc so proud of will not be found wanting in any of us on this splendid occasion. 1 believe that the Minister of Health, the Hon. Mr Nordmeyer. would be pleas ed to accept an invitation to open the hospital; and the chairman and mem- . bers of the Nelson Hospital Board should also be invited to take part. 1 It is an important event The hos pital is in every way worthy of the dis I trict and the purpose it is intended to serve, and reflects credit both on the Department of Health to whom we are indebted for it. and the Nelson Hos- 1 pital Board which has established it. I Nor must we foiget the late Miss Scott —that noble hearted pioneer whose I benefaction was the foundation of the J movement —nor those whose advocacy • of the measure, in their respective posi- j lions did so much to promote it. These j men should certainly be invited to the opening.--1 am etc “R.H R. ’ Motupipi. 30th Aug