The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1919. WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 455, 7 March 1919, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. " We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1919. WAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

THE position as regards the proposal to erect a cottage hospital in Pulcekohe to serve as a war memorial both for Franklin County and Pukekohe Borough was well summed up by Cr J. S. Montgomerie at yesterday's meeting of the County Council when he stated that such a project was the only possible means of uniting the district in rho way of securing a central memorial as a combination of the town and County. Cr. Montgomerie went on to say that a hospital would essentially be an ideal form of memorial and he could imagine nothing better for the purpose. We are wholly in accord with the views expressed by Cr. Montgomerie for we believe that it would not be possible to do honour in a better way to the memories of those heroes who gallantly went forth to the field of battle and gave their live 6 in the cause of the Empire than to set up an institution of a humanitarian nature wherein sufferer? from illness, disease, or accident could be cared and tended for. It has been suggested that the matter of utility should not be attached to a war memorial but we fail to see the force of this argument and indeed we think it would be more appropriate in every way to have as a memorial some useful building rather than a statue or monument as a mere ornament. It was claimed recently by a correspondent in these columns that the Technical .School in Auckland was already better known as such than as the Sodclon Memorial, for which it was intended, our correspondent's claim heing that the object fojiwhicjjit was established had become obscured by its e<lii(\'\tionaJJßlfiffr!fflri\ss. We have, liovvWer, in Pukekohe a form of memorial that has both failed in its purpose and is indicative of the manner in ~ b it'll a structure is allowed to go unheeded and almost ,ro pass into decay. We allude to the Seddon Memorial obelisk erected in King Street, which, previously bearing for street lighting purposes three acetylene lamps, the same being rarely lighted, has had a chequered career and is now to be removed to another site. Against this, it is not open to question but that a hospital would be always preserved. Some when the Puke-

kohe Chamber of Commerce first mooted the subject the belief was unanimous that with steadily increasing population a hospital was wanted in the interests of the district of which Pukekohe is the natural centre but on the plea that finances were .not then available the Auckland Hospital Board asked that the scheme should be deferred. Now that the time is approaching when subscriptions will be requisitioned as a means of expressing heart-felt thanks for victory gained over the Huns the Chamber of Commerce again advocates that from every point of view a cottage hospital would best fill the bill. As we have previously stated, it is simply proposed to erect the building from public subscriptions and then to hand it over to the Hospital Board for maintenance and administration in the same way that the Board carries on the Warkworth and other small hospitals. We would mention that a cottage hospital at Pukekohe would not debar patients, if deemed advisable, still being taken to the Auckland Hospital as the institution in Pukekohe would be subsidiary to the main hospital in Auckland. It is, however, for the Hospital Board to say whether it is willing to undertake the maintenance of a hospital in Pukekohe and in the hope of persuading it so to do a deputation representative of the County and Borough Councils and of the Chamber of Commerce is to wait on the Board at its next meeting. Backed up with the force of public opinion, the deputation will certainly have a good case to put forward and if their request is acceded to donations will then be appealed for.