PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 465, 11 April 1919, Page 2

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

m Special Meeting. At a special meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council, convened for tee purpose of considering—(l) The erection of a cottage hospital; (2) A war memorial; (3) Peace celebrations ; there were present The Mayor >'Mr H. G. R. Mason), and Crs G. D. Hamilton, J. T. Stembridge, K. Bilkey, and F. J Morrow, with the Town Clerk (Mr J. F. Deane.) THE HOSPITAL PROPOSAL, With regard to the question of the proposal to erect a cottage hospital iu Pukekohe in memory of fallen soldiers, Cr Stembridge received the following letter from the InspectorGeueral of Hospitals:—" With reference to my letter of March 3rd, concerning the proposal to erect a cottage hospital at Pukekohe, as a war memorial, I have to inform you that full inquiries have been made as to the desirability of such a hospital being established, but, in view of the fact that Pukekohe is within easy distance of Auckland, both by rail and by good road?, it is not desirable to accede to the request of your Council. I would point out] that the policy of the Department is | to establish up-to-date base hospitals, j where the most modern medical and surgical treatment can be obtaineJ,, instead of establishing small hos-1 pitals throughout the country, where j the cost of administration must be uunecessarily high. Then again, an assured medical service cannot always be guaranteed in the smaller centres; and, in that connection, the interests of the public have to be guarded. Under the circumstances, therefore, the Department is unable to agree to the establishment of a cottage hos pital at Pukekoho.—(Signed) M. A. Valentine, Inspector General of Hospitals." Cr Hamilton said on the face of the foregoing it was not wise to go on with the proposal. The Mayor moved that the Council take no further action iu the matter. Cr b'tembridge seconded the motion, aud it was carried unanimously A WAR MEMORIAL In order that the public should have a voice in the matter of choosing a suitable war memorial, it was decided to hold a public meeting in i the Salvation Army hall on Monday i next, at S pm, to receive suggestions a a to what form the meraoria

r should take. It is also proposed to give the public the benefit of the ballot box at the municipal eleotion on April 30th in deciding finally on the form of the memorial. PF.ACK CELEBRATIONS Regarding peace celebrations it was agreed to invite the school teachers of Pukekohe, Pukekohe East, Mauku, Patumahoe, Buckland, Puni, members of the Chamber of Commerce, Patriotic League, Ladies' Patriotic League, Lodges, football, golf, tennis, and bowling clubs, and the various ministers and members of Sunday Schools, to attend a meeting on Saturday night to decide what should be done in this connection. Ihe Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded a draft of the programme compiled by the Government.