Maternity questions asked

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 293, 4 July 1989, Page 5

Maternity questions asked

BY

Philipa

french

"Close our annex then close our backup" was one comment made at the Waiouru Community advisory committees meeting held in Waiouru last Monday.

The committee discussed the article that appeared in the Dominflion on Saturday 17 June / stating that Taihape, Patea, Waimarino and Marton hospitals will soon become rural health centres. Kathy Frater, secretary of the committee, said the Wanganui Health Board closed the annex with the promise of backup just 20 minutes down the road but following the recent article in the Dominion she sees it as dishonesty by the Board. It was decided the committee should write a letter to the board asking for a definite policy and a clear ex-

planation of the term "rural health centre" especially in relation to maternity services. It was also suggested another public meeting should be held in Waiouru with a member from the W.A.H.B. present. Transition Mr Cliff Houston, Ruapehu District Manager, was invited as guest speaker to the meeting to explain the transition to the new Ruapehu District. Five wards will make up the new District Council with a total of 14 members five from Taumarunui, three from Waimarino, two from Waiouru, two from

Ohura, and two from National Park plus the Mayor. Four of those wards will have a Community Board with six members plus their District Council representatives. Elections for these positions are to be held in October. Everyone on the electoral role will be sent the necessary papers as all voting will be done by mail. It was a concern of the committee that because of the high turnover in Waiouru's population many people will not have registered in their new electorate. A decision to send out a circular to all households reminding people to check their names are on the electoral role closer to the time of elections was made. Barriers The committee asked Mr Ashley Strachan from the Rangitikei

County Council to report on the project of the new concrete block barriers on the Main Road. Although there has been come letters of complaints and a few people have taken it upon themselves to rearrange the blocks, the project is deemed basically a success. The idea of putting down temporary blocks was so -that any changes

could be made before permanent placing. This will be carried out within the next two weeks, Mr Strachan said. Waiouru motel The instigator of the recent Waiouru motel proposal is no longer involved, but the WCAC heard last week that there may soon be another interested party to take on the project.