THE OTAKI HOSPITAL.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 24 May 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI HOSPITAL.

MR W. 11. FIELD, M.P., MAKES A PROTEST. Air W. H. Field, member for the district, is much exorcised over fhc suggested losing of the Otaki Hospital, and says the hospital will never be closed if he can possibly help it. The following letters have been forwarded by Air Field to the Hon. Aliuister for Public Health:- —

“Dear Sir, —Sonic time back the Horowheuua County separated from the Wellington Hospital District and joined tin- Palmerston North District, ami one of the express terms upon which the alteration was made was that the Otaki Hospital was not to be closed, but on the contrary, in view of its great value to that, portion of the district, should remain open and lie allowed to continue the excellent work which it has been doing for many yea i s. “At a recent meeting of the Palmerston Hospital Hoard, however, a decision was arrived at to close this hospital, and this resolution has given rise to a strong expression of indignation and protest from the various local bodies. Farmers’ Enitui branch, and the public generally, in the district which | (hi- Otaki Hospital serves. “1 enclose for your information .-ovoral out of many newt,paper clip- | pings, on the subject. Von will gather J tmni the “Otaki Aiail’s’’ leading urI tide of tiie uth in.-t. the positive asaeri tion made by Air B. li. Gardener, ttxI -Mayor of Levin, one of the gentlemen j mod prominent in the alteration of i boundaries, that there, wan no possibility of the Otaki Hospital lining closed, lie advocated instead of ciosj ing it, its improvement, the appoint- ' incut of u permanent medical officer, | and the general extension of the insti- | tut ion. | “Mr Gardener further said that the. j Pnlnierslon North Hospital Board j would never have power to close the 1 Otaki Hospital, even if it wi lied to do i ". without the sanction of the GovernI ment, wiiich would have to be obtained before this could be done, and in the j luce of strong public opinion on the j question tins sanction would never bo , given. I “Other prime advocates in the I change of boundaries made similar I siateim-uts, and the resolution of the j Palmerston North Hospital Board has

consequently come as a painful surprise to everybody. “1 personally am aware of the necessity for the Otaki Hospital to remain ejiei!, and am satisfied that much suffering, inconvenience, and probably 10-s of life would occur if it were closed. “I have thought it. my duly, therefore. to write and protest, against the Government acceding to any application which may lie made for closing this hospital. “T am quite sure that upon full eue ,in- it will be found to be a serious I hinder.” “Dear Pir. Following inv lifter to 'oe of the I'.th in .f,. I enclose for your j.cnl-al further news paper clippings dealing with the proposed closing of Go- otaki Ho-pital. ■'i would point oof that tin- m.-fitu-wa taken over by the Gov ernment, during the war. and the Palmerston Xorth Hospital Board have now been relied to resume control of it e from s’* ptomher next. This r< quo t on the pari of the Government seems to have been largely responsible for the recent decision of the Palmerston North Board to clo.-e the hospital. I strongly ie"oriimemi that tin Government, retain control up to the end of the financial year, the 31st. March next, that in six months beyond September. This will give lime for due consideration of the whole matter in dispute. “As a farmer at Waikan.ae the fret i - continually brought under my notice that this hospital is an enormous boon to the people of the southern end of tie Afanawatu di trict. Particularly ir. tk "O in the i-s-i of accident and sudden illne. .. uch a appendicitis, diphtheria, pneumonia, t it:., which require immediate treatment, and sometimes operation:,. At time:; the closing of tie- ho.-pita! would certainly entail lev of valuable life. “The Otaki Ho pital ha;, become an . • :.tiai institution on the Manawatu Ux . and cannot be done without.”