BOARD MUST BUILD

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 302, 13 March 1928, Page 1

BOARD MUST BUILD

’ HOSPITAL AT PAEROA i , ” DR. VALINTINE’S ORDER S a ..... i THREAT RESENTED 1 * /From * Oar Own Correspondent.) THAMES, To-day* .1 .... - l ? ’ Gentlemen* the need for this hospi--0 tal has ■ not' been- established by evi--j dence, and I appeal to the Minister of Health’ to ' appoint a tribunal to take evidence on the question. Let it be proved that in the interests of humanity a hospital is needed at Paeroa more than on the Hauraki Plains, where there is a greater population and far less medical-and nursing facilities than at Paeroa, then, and then only, is there justification for the never-ending rati ing liability • entailed.” x Such Were the’ concluding remarks of Mr. J." W. Dahby at yesterday’s ’ meeting of tlie Thames Hospital Board -in expressing his indignation and opposition to Dr., Valintine’s threat that. • unless the Thames Hospital Board l erected a hospital at Paeroa to be ready-for occupation by April, 1929, the Health Department would build an in- : stitution and charge the cost to the Thames Board. The majority of the Thames Hospital Board contends that a hospital or maternity home is not warranted by statistical returns.- The cost of maintaining the proposed hospital at Paeroa, which is to have accommodation for eight beds —six maternity and two casualty—is estimated by the board at £1,688 per annum, and the estimated | revenue £377 4s. The deficiency of i £1,310 would be met by Government j subsidy and direct levy on local bodies iin the hospital district. The Hauraki Plains County would have to find £307 17s, Thames Borough £ll7 18s, and Thames. County £7B 12s, as tlieir share, of the deficiency. The board, after a lengthy discussion, .decided to obtain legal opinion as to-the validity of the department’s action.