COTTAGE HOSPITAL PROJECT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 452, 25 February 1919, Page 2

COTTAGE HOSPITAL PROJECT.

The Pnkekohe Chamber of Commerce, which had for some t<me been dormant, has lost no time in justifying its resurrection by rising to the occasion and advocating that a cottage hospital should be established -is the most suitable form of a war memorial for Pukekohe Borough and Franklin County. The cottage hospital scheme is not a new one as some years ago the Chamber ot Commerce moved in that direction, but the Auckland Hospital Board indicated that at that time financial considerations prevented them doing anything. The Chamber is, however, of opinion that with the conclusion of the war nothing would be more fitting as a thanksoffering for victory than the provision of a cottage hospital, and to put forward that view a deputation of the Chamber waited 011 the Borough Council last Wednesday. The Council listened attentively to the arguments put forward, but expressed the opinion that it would have been more satisfactory if fuller information could have been supplied. It was however, explained that the Chamber had been in communication with the Hospital B>ard, who had replied that it was for the local authorities to approach them in the matter. The Council will now make enquiries, and the Mayor announced that it would be left to the residents, in public meeting, to decide as to the forn. the war memorial should take. In the Council discussion, however. there seemed to be &11 impression that a cottage hospital would require to be either selfsupporting or maintained b\ subscriptions. It can easily be un derstood that difficulties would be likely to aiise thereby, but the Chamber's objective is for a building to be erected as a cottage hospital out of donations, supplemented by a Government suli-idy, and then for it to !>■■ handed over to the Hospital Board for maintenance and control. V.'hether the Hospital Board will accept the responsibility lias to be ascertained, but certainly a good case can be made out for a hospital to be set up in Pukekohe as the centre of Franklin County, and we believe that subscriptions would freely flow in for the putpose. The Chamber lias taken preliminary action, and It remains for the people of the district to bestir themselves in the matter