TAIHAPE PUBLIC HOSPITAL

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3592, 2 October 1920, Page 5

TAIHAPE PUBLIC HOSPITAL

THE IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME. iCere was an attendance of onlytwelve at the public meeting which was called for Thursday evening for the purpose of considering the question of raising funds for Hospital improvements, etc. Mr J. P. Aldridge, member of the Wanganui Hospital Board, was elected chairman. Mr Aldridge said it was. necessary that the Hospital should be made up-to-date, and that the time was now opportune to make the Hospital what it should be. The district was a large one, and Taihape was the centre of that district, and they should be able to support a good up-to-date hospital. At present, a great deal was required in the way of equipment, and one of the essential things required was a motor ambulance. At present the Hospital waycontrolled by the Wanganui Board, and. the rates "collected over the district amounted to about £9OOO or £IO,OOO. Raetihi was establishing a cottage hospital, which would be of benefit to that part of the district. Numerous accident cases were sent to the Taihape Hospital from all over the district, and a good many of these cases had to be carried on stretchers, carts, or other conveyances, and he emphasised the need for a motor ambulance. Some of the things which were absolutely essential could not be provided by the Hospital Board. The surroundings of the Hospital' were not what they should be, and difficulty had been experience©: in getting the necessary work done. They could not get from the Board anything apart from what, should, be provided under the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act. They would have to consider eventually the puestion of the establishment of a separate Hospital District. He regretted the absence of the Mayor, who should have been present, -and also regretted the small attendance at' the meeting.

Apologies were made on behalf of Messrs R. A. Davie&, J. E. Cunninghame, and D. Scott, none of whom could possibly attend. Dr. McDiarmid expressed the opinion that the meeting was too small to consider any important proposal such a® the establishment of a separate Hospital District. He asked if there had yet *> een any proposal made for raising funds for improvements. The Chairman explained that no proposal had. been made, but suggested the adoption of'a district competitive scheme. He understood that the returned soldiers were considering the question of holding a Venetian 801 l for the Hosptal. There may be other proposals as well. To dp what -was required at the Hospital a lot of mone>y would be needed. Mr E. T. Hill explained thas.the returned, soldiers had some time ago decided to hold a Ball in order to raise funds for the tennis court at the pital.

Mr Lenihan considered that the provision of such a need as a motor ambulance should be the responsibility of the Hospital Board, and he understood that the matter had been referred to in the House, when it was mentioned that motor ambulances should be provided wherever required, He did not think the meeting sufficiently representative to formulate any definite proposals, and moved: "That consideration of the question of. the establishment of a separate hospital district be deferred till a later meeting."

The resolution was seconded by Dr McDiarmid and carried.

Those present, Mesdames Sinclair and Absolum, Misses Webb and Corbett, and Messrs J. P. Aldridge, A. Gifford, Taylor, S. Dunbar E. Lenihan, E. T. Hill, Rev..W. Lea, and Dr. McDiarmid were constituted a committee to arrange for a public meeting on Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock.