OPUNAKE HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1919, Page 2

OPUNAKE HOSPITAL MATTERS.

DEPUTATION TO EGMONT COUNTS COUNCIL. SEVERANCE NOT FAVORED. Hospital matters wore further discussed at the meeting of the Jigmont County Council on Tuesday, when a deputation from the County of Egmont Nursliiu Association, comprising ltoys. Strand (chairman) and Palmer (secretary), waited on the Council. llev. palmer detailed lit length the stepß that had heen taken to secure suitable accommodation for the nurse, and ttio interview th.it had been held with the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board chairman, who on one occasion said: "I see that you are going in for ix memorial to fallen soldiers. Why not put up a cottage hospital as a memorial?" Personally lie was surprised to hear tills coming from tho chairman, who had always been opposed to the cottage hospital. He pointed out that Xurse lloldsworth, when resigning, gave us a reason the lack of suitable accommodation. After exhaustive enquiry, the Association had tile offer of £4OO for a small cottage that was suitable for accommodating, two patients as well as the nurse. With £SO already promised they would have required to raise another £l5O by public subsubscription together with £2OO Government subsidy to secure the place, which aad sii ce been sold. They had made representations to Mr. Wilkinson, M.P., as to securing » nunable site, and Mr. Wilkinson had suggested that tho County Council should be anted to pass a resolution stating whether It approved of tho cottage hospital or of the scheme, which, he understod, was being brought torward for severance This they asked the Council to do. It was imperative that accommodation for the nurse should be secured. Cr. Campbell said that the question of accommodation for tlie nurse had been threshed out by the Hospital Board, which would give Its sympathy, but was unwilling to put Its hands in Its pockets. Cr. O'Brien pointed out that in his letter to the Rev. Palmer, Mr. Wilkinson did not anticipate any dlfliculty In obtaining a separate hospital district. Personally, his idea was that a cottage hospital would not be sufficient to meet the case. If they purchased a cottage it would not prove satisfactory. He considered that in controverting his figures the secretary of the Hospital Board had acted the part of a special pleader, and had minimised the truth and exaggerated the untruth. He considered that the figures he had quoted at the last meeting won) approximately correct. The levy was based on the valuation of tho county, but the speaker did not think that Egmont was so wealthy until he realised liie marked increase in the market value of land recently. The secretary of tho Hospital Board said that at March 31, 1917, tha Government valuation of Egmont County was £1,876,44211 and Patea was £3,731,554, but It must be remembered that Patea had had a valuation recently whereas Egmont had not had one since 1913, and when this was taken the capital value per head would be far ahead of that of Patea. •Ho Instanced a farm In Egmont which was valued at £2O, and recently sold at $1)0 per aero. The chairman rose to a point of order. He considered that Cr. O'Brien should not assume future Government valuations.

Cr. O'Brien considered that it would be fair to assume that the land value throughough the county had risen proportionately according to the quality of the land, and that would Increase the value three times.

The chairman held that this was not revelant to tho question of a cottage hospital, which the deputation required. Cr. O'Brien said that the deputation left It an open question, whether they had a cottage hospital or a separate district. Continuing, Cr. O'Brien said that on the taxes of Increased valuation, Egmont County would be valued at £4,225,137, as against Patea's £3,731.554. Moreover. Egraont was all level dairying country, and Patea County contained a lot of standing bush and waß sheep country! Stratford County, with a valuation of £2,085,137, had a public hospital. Egraont now struck a rate of 2%d, whereas Patea struck a rate of %d, which covered hospital expenditure also. What then had Egmont to be afraid of» In dealing with hospital expenditure the Maori population must bo cons:dered. Egmont had twice as many natives as Patea. No census of Maoris had been taken for some years, and It was therefore difficult to get at the correct population, but It was significant that Patea admitted 204 patients to its hospital, and Egmont sent 203 to New Plymouth hospital last year. This should be a, fair index to the population of each county. He considered the secretary had been unfair In selecting last year for comparison when tho epidemic had Increased the (iost. As regard the annual cost of maintenance, tho secretary said that last year the. maintenance of the Patea Hospital cost £2948, but ho did not see how much was paid by patients In fees or by the Government, which would reduce the amount very much. Patea without tolls ran its county and hospital on a %& rate, so that the hnsoltal could not he a very great expense, and it would pay tho Egraont County to have Its own hosu'tai.

Cr. Green rose to a point of order. He considered they wero only discussing the cottage hospital. Rev. Strand said that the larger scheme had not been discussed by his Association. They had considered a cottage hospital suitable. Cr. O'Brien asked Mr Strand whether a fullyequipped hospital with medical staff, nurses, and n separate district would not be preferable? Adding: "I say It Would." Rov. Strand: Yes.

Continuing, Cr. O'Brien said that his figures wore relevant. Evidently members wished to burlto discussion, but there were no rules of debate, and lie would Insist on being heard. Ho was strongly opposed to building a cottage hospital, which would have to be built by public subscription They would have also to go to New Plymouth for permission to erect and run It. A cottage hospital was not what they wanted, but a small well-built hospital, with lofty well-ventilated rooms, not a pokey tin-pot cottage that would probably kill some patients. To cage up patients and the nurse in a place like this, which he characterised as the "Black Hole of Calcutta," was awful to contemplate. Tin secretary's figures were a disgrace. The secretary also Included an Old People's Home, and said that the whole cost would be £15,000. Egmont did not want an Old People's Home. It would board out its old people. They wanted to get rid of New Plymouth and Its power to tax them. When they went to tho New Plymouth hoard for assistance all they got was a few words of sympathy. He urged them to drop the idea of a cottago hospital, and go In for the larger scheme. Concluding, he said that It was as easy as falling off a log to get a separate dtstrlct. The chairman: If the ratepayers allow it. Cr. O'Brien then moved that, the chairman of the County Council call a public meeting of ratepayers of the county to be hold In Opunake to take lulo consideration, the establishment of a public hospital or cottage hospital in Opunake. Cr. A. B. Coffin seconded.

Cr. Green said that there was no question that the ratepayers would not sanction severance from New Plymouth. The Association required either a cottage hospital or a homo for the nurse They should push tho Tarunaki Hospital Board in this matter. Tho chairman agreed with the necessity for the establishment of a cottage hospital, which the district was entitled to, as they paid » subsidy of £ISOO per annum for the upkeep of the New Plymouth Hospital and £3OO for Interest. The question of severance rested with the ratepayers at the poll, and he did not think that the Council should give a lead. As far as he was concerned as chairman, ho would do all ho could to secure a good nurse and good accommodation for her. Tho amount of money already put by ratepayers In the New Plymouth hospital appeared to him to be an absolute bar to any severance, which he was certain that ratepayers would not sanction. He was as anxious as anyone to see a small hospital. Cr. O'Brien said that he was just asking that a public meeting be called and that a poll ho taken on the matter. ' In reply to Cr, Sinclair, Rev. Strand said that the Hospital Board had never lead them to believe that a grant would he given. Cr. Campbell felt certain that the Hospital Board would not give them a'ny money. Cr. Green said that the people would wot favor severance. Cr. Sinclair moved, aa an amendment, that the Council expresses Its sympathy with the steps taken by the Nursing Association to establish a eottago hospital at Opunake, and would do all In its power to assist. Cr. Green seconded. Rev. Strand stated that this resolution would meet the case. They were endeavouring to secure a reserve as a site, and wanted the Council's resolution in support of the matter, so that it could be forwarded to Mr. WilkinThe amendment was carried, only Cr. O'Brien voting against it. Rev. Palmer said Hint he would not like Cr. O'Brien's description of a cottage iospltal to go to the public. He considered It was largely drawn from the Imagination. Tho Nursing Association did not. Intend to put up with anything that could possibly be called the "Black Hole of Calcutta.". The cottage hospitals that he had seen were run under excellent conditions, and would easily meet their requirements. The nurses were happy, and so were the pntlenU.