OTAKI HOSPITAL.

Shannon News, 16 October 1925, Page 2

OTAKI HOSPITAL.

SUPPORT PROMISED BY MR. FIELD. At Monday night's meeting at Otaki Mr. Freeman asked Mr. Field Otald's position regarding the hospital. Mr. Field said that the Otaki hospital had been erected for many years, on land given by the Natives, it had been the means of doing fine work, but for years past it had been under the control of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, since which it had been starved, probably with the intention of having it closed. An attempt had been made to close it, but the people had been given I to understand it would not be closed. The process of starvation, however, had continued, and it was absolutely unfair. When he heard the hospital was to be closed it came to him like a bombshell, and he took immediate action. He had written letters, saw the powers to be, and had said the hospital would not be closed. He had gone as far as to say he would resign as member of Parliament as a protest if the institution was closed. The result was that the hospital was not closed, and it remained for the people of the district to see that the Hospital Board did its duty. They possessed a splendid matron and plenty of good doctors, and he would stand ' to the people of Otaki on the matter. Mr. Williams asked was the question , only being shelved till after the election. Mr. Field said he could not say, but he thought the hospital had another lease of life. They must see it was well run and kept open. Mr. Williams: Will you try and get assurance that it will be kept open? Mr. Field said he would do his best. The people must see that the right thing was done. He favoured a meeting if the people of the district were not satisfied. (Applause).