Used as a Morgue

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 8 October 1952, Page 5

Used as a Morgue

This ancient-Iooking building, the premises or Mr A. A. Noble, undertaker, has to be used, when occas on demands, as Taupo's mortuary. The onfy alfernative is the local police station, and that, for obvious seasons, i$ not practicabfe. The fatal road accident last week nesr the Huhi Lodge, when a truck turned over, kilimg a passenger, brpyght mto sharp relief the fact that Taupo needs a pubSic mortuary, and needs it bad'y. This has been on the way for some consklerabfe tlme pasfr. With three official authorities in the picture — the Health Departmenf, the Waikato HospitaS Board, and the Taupo Town Board- — there has been ira progsress the custcmary excharage of eorrespondence. Plans had to be prepared and approved, a sife had to be dec'ded upon— and approved — the responsibaS' "ty for bearimg the cost sefctled, and specifieatlons sei out. There was a prolonged intervai of correspondence between the Waikato Hospltaf Board and the Taupo Town Board as to the proportion of the cost to be borne by each. That was finalfy settled, and about 3 months age plans came forward. But the Town Board is stiSS awacting the arrival of specificat'ons and so the business of calling for tenders and getting on v/ith the job is being held up. It is not very often that the need for the vonvenlence of a mortuary arises, but when it does, the convenience should be at hand. What is available, as may be judged from the fact that a properly consfructed pufeSic morgue must provide not onfy a mortuary charraber, but afso a room and facilities for post-morterm examinations. These are provided for in the plans. Sn view ©f Taupo's rapidly increasing population, and the great infiux of visitors at holiday seasons, the sconer these plans are materiafised in soh'd substance the better.