HOSPITAL FOR OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1921, Page 8

HOSPITAL FOR OPUNAKE.

A QUESTION OF FINANCE. GOVERNMENT HELP TO BE SOUGHT. Tiie position as affecting the proposal to erect a cottage hospital at Opunake was again gene into at the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board, when a report whs received from a special committee which sat last week, recommending that Messrs. M. Fraser (chairman) and M. O’Brien be a deputation to interview the Prime Minister at Wellington to secure assistance. It will be recalled that* the board secured an estimate for the work, which indicated that the erection could be done at a cost of £2BOO, and they accordingly made provision to this extent. When tenders were called, however, the lowest received was £4BOO, a difference of £2OOO, and for this reason the board did not fee' inclined to go on with the scheme, in fact the Department had intimated that they could not approve of paying subsidy on the additional amount.

When the sub-committee’s report was received yesterday the chairman reviewed the position, and also touched on the state of the flrances. He stated that the limit of the board’s overdraft was £2500. The overdraft already stood at £1938, which meant that they had only £502 to draw on from this source. “It is just as well, therefore,” said the speaker, “that the public and contributing bodies should know exactly how much money we have to spend ” With regard to the raising of loan moneys, Mr. Fraser quoted letters from the Department, Ln which strict economy ! was urged. In January the Director-General (Dr. Valir.tine) wrote:—“Boards should not commit themselves to any capital expenditure, unless they see their way clear to obtain the necessary funds to meet such expenditure. The raising of loan moneys is at present a difficult undertaking, and it is understood that the Public Trustee Is, for the time being, fully committed, and therefore it cannot be taken as a certainty that funds can be obtained from that office. Whilst, therefore, the Department will, as heretofore, continue to point out the desirability of capital expenditure wherever necessary for the efficiency of an institution, yet such will always imply that the boards slould be sure that arrangements can be made for financing such undertakings.” Wit l ' reference to the Opunake hospital, a letter was read from Dr. Wylie, in charge of buildings, under date January 25, which stated:—“l am instructed to advise you that, owing to the disparity between the estimated cost of the above hospital and the lowest tender received, your Board will be well advised to defer the matter of building this hospital at ti e present time, unless, as you suggest, the people of the district concerned are inclined to guarantee the difference betewen the two sums in question.”

The chairman said that in view of the position he did not think that any good would come of sending him to Wellington with the Opunake deputation, as the board could not make any further offers. The trouble had come with the difficulties of the period, he said, and people must realise that. The board could net accept the tender at the Increased price, because they had no money. No one had more sympathy for the Opunake people than I‘imself, and he was sure that all the members desired to see that the people of that district got justice, but they could not see their way tc recommend an additional £2BOO expendiIt was stated that one contractor, on being asked for an estimate of the cost of the hospital, on a ten per cent, basis, put the amount down at £5BOO. This represents an increase of £3OOO on tiie original estimate of £2BOO made by the architects last April, and confirmed at the latter end of last year. Mr. M. O'Brien accused the board of attempting to sl-uffle. He strongly urged that tiie chairman should back up the deputation of Opunake representatives He pointed cut that the Opunake people had raised £4OO Li; the early stages, and had collected since a further £2OO, which was lying at the bank. He stressed the need of a hospital in the district. Ti e chairman said it was not a question of stubbornness, hut merely that the board did not have the money. Personally he was quite prepared to proceed with the deputation if it ■ was the wish of the board. After discussion it was decided to confirm the rirangenient that the chairman and Mr. O'Brien fonm a deputation to interview the Prime Ministel in company with other delegate! from Opunake. J