THOSE T.B. SHELTERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 125, 17 August 1927, Page 13

THOSE T.B. SHELTERS

GOVERNMENT criticised N EW BUILDINGS ADVOCATED Already a much -discussed question the removal of the T.B. huts from the Domain to Epsom, was introduced at the meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday by a resolution from the Southern Cross League. The league expressed itself as being in entire accord with the City Council’s idea regarding the shelters. A letter was also received from the Director-General of Health, Dr. T. H. X Valin tine, stating that a deputation had waited on the Minister asking the rovernment to pay the cost of the removal of the shelters, up to £2OO or £SOO. The Government had considered the request and would, conditionally on the board removing the and re-erecting them, subsidise it to the extent of £250. “ENLARGEMENT OF THE HEART" “This has been dealt with by the committee,” said Mr. William Wallace, chairman, “and when I heard of this £250 I thought the Government was suffering from enlargement of the heart. It should pay the whole of the cost of removal, and this deputation had no right to say it should pay only Wallace pointed out that both Dr. Maguire and Dr. McKelvey were satisfied that new shelters should be provided. Those at present in existence were in a bad state and at Epsom the Red Cross building should be pulled down, the drainage attended to and new shelters erected as well as a new kitchen. “MOST INADEQUATE” “This is not going to cost les_s than £1,000,” said Mr. Wallace. “it is not a question for a local body, because there are a number of patients there who come from various parts of the Dominion. It is a national matter and the way in which the Government has responded is penurious. This £250 is most inadequate. The site that has been chosen is an admirable one and has met with the approval of the patients.” He was of the opinion that the question should not everlastingly be held over the heads of the patients and new shelters should be built. The matter would be again considered at a special meeting to be held on Friday. There had been statements in the Press that the shelters would encroach on the Domain, but he wished to say that there was no intention of doing that. Mr. Harbutt said there was a feeling of dissatisfaction that the deputation had only asked for such a small sum. The £250 offered was only a fleabite.