OPUNAKE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1921, Page 6

OPUNAKE HOSPITAL.

EGMONT COUNTY’S PROTEST. ATTITUDE OF HOSPITAL BOARD. RAHOTU RIDING’S VIEW. Another phase in the controversy over the proposed cottage hospital at Opunake was brought to light at the monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday, when Messrs. W. R. Wright and G. Gibson (of Rahotu) waited on the meeting to indicate their disagreement with the action of the Egmont County Council on Tuesday in deciding to withhold the county contribution to the Taranaki Board until a start was made with the erection of the hospital. “1 have come here as a ratepayer of the riding, and not as a councillor, to protest against the action of the council in stopping the subsidy,” said Mr. Wright in addressing the board. He proceeded to say that the northern members of the council—the three representatives of the Rahotu riding—had strongly objected at the meeting of the council to the action which was" decided on. He had made a direct appeal to the council, and pointed out to them that they were putting themselves in a ridiculous position. Mr. Wright (continuing): Is Mr. O’Brien here? Members: No.

Mr. Wright: He is not here to defend his action. I would have liked to have met him here to-day. Proceeding, Mr. Wright remarked that the board could easily take steps to recover their subsidy by issuing a writ, and he hoped they would. The Rahotu riding, he said, was the biggest partner in the Egmont County, the valuation being £715,000 against £500,000 for the rest of the county, and they did not want to be put to any expense. He hoped the board would take proceedings at once. He believed tliat the present movement had been engineered in the town of Opunake, but he had told them they would be foolish to spend £6OOO on a building which when erected would be worth £3OOO. It would be simply madness.

Mr. Gibson said he had no hesitation in attending as a ratepayer because he knew that they had practically the united support of the Rahotu riding. The board had been put in a peculiar I position, and it was only right they should know’ that the action which had just been taken was not unanimous. Though he had not followed the hospital controversy very closely, he believed that the full aspect of the case had not been presented to the Opunake people as it should have been. If the matter were laid before them .they would not be so much in favor of the proposals. If the rates which were being charged in an institution in Opunake at present were any criterion of what the people were going to be charged he thought they would fight shy of a public hospital. It was a great mistake that the Egmont County did not pull together a little bit -better than was the case. He did not think the ratepayers in general were in favor of the council’s action. Mr. Wright: There is not two per cent of the Rahotu riding in favor of the action taken by the council. COSTS TOO HIGH.

The chairman of the board (Mr. M. Fraser) expressed appreciation of the action the deputation had taken. The members had seen the Daily News’ report of the council’s meeting, and their decision seemed to be more like the ac-' tion of rowdy school boys; they surely must know that they could not hold the money. Consequently, said Mr. Fraser, it was very gratifying to see that there were still on the county men of business and common sense who understood the position. As far as the board was concerned they were not affected by the decision. All along they had been very tolerant with the Opunake people in their desire to get a hospital. They had submitted to the department again and again that the Opunake people were very anxious to get a cottage hospital; in fact, they had been anxious to get a separate institution, not knowing what the cost of running a hospital was. The board had called for tenders, the lowest of which was something like £5OOO, and they felt they would not be justified in using the ratepayers’ money to that extent for a cottage hospital. Those members who looked after the finance of the board, although submitting to the proposals, really felt that the Opunake people were asking for too much. In reviewing the position further, Mr. Fraser pointed out that the Stratford board’s district nurse at Whangamomona, who up till recently had only a small room in her cottage, sent in to her board last month something over £9 as earnings. The district nurse in Opunake, who was acknowledged to be a qualified surgical and maternity nurse, and with whom the people and the board were no doubt quite satisfied, had sent the sum of 14s 6d to the board as earnings for the past month. This was a matter which had prevented the board from agreeing to the fullest extent with the Opunake people. A cottage hospital would have to be maintained, and this was a burden which would probably fall on the board also. All the talk aboutythe requirements of Opunake was unnecessary, because all the serious cases would have to come to New Plymouth. Behind the discussion on the cottage hospital there appeared to be a desire to have some monumental thing for some purpose which the board could not understand. “TOO BL’SY FOR COMEDIANS.” In addressing the deputation, Mr. Fraser said: “We appreciate very highly your action to-day, and also particularly in opposing these children.” Mr. Wright: “Comedians,” sir. I told them yesterday that is what they are. lam resigning. lam too busy a man to listen to “comedians.” In the course of further discussion, Mr. Wright said that if any residents in Rahotu required treatment they came to New Plymouth. The riding that would be the heaviest payers towards a hospital would not use it. Mr. Gibson enquired, in the event of a separate hospital district being formed, if it would be liable for commitments already entered into by the board.

Replying, the secretary (Mr. E. Holden) said that the whole of the valuations of the hospital district were guaranteed as security -against loans, and would have to remain so. Mr. Young said the board had done its utmost, and the chairman deserved everv credit for the way in which he had ‘ worked for the Opunake hospital. Tba tz-eatment meted out in return was

an- insult, and if the ratepayers of Opunake knew the trouble the chairman had gone to they would not have the stand they did. . The chairman had told them it would not be wise to go beyond the £3OOO mark.

The chairman: The-Minister of Health supports that, too. Continuing, Mr. Young said the board had called tenders, but the prices were unreasonable, being in the vicinity of £6OOO. The boiird could not be expected to authorise this expenditure when the Government would only’ go up to £3OOO.

In endorsing the remarks of previous speakers, Mr. E. R. Gilmour denied the statement made at the meeting of the Egmont County Council to the effect that the board had been against Opunake. As far as the levy was concerned the board was going to get it.

Mr. Capper said he was greatly surprised to see the chairman of the Egmont County Council (Cr. Campbell) vote for the motion, as he was an old member of the board and should have known the position. Mr. S. Vickers advocated placing the matter fully before the district. He was glad that the deputation had waited on the board, and that the feelings of the county were not with the motion passed. Mr. Young pointed out that the chairman had already been to Opunake and explained the whole circumstances, and he did not think it would be necessary to do so again. The deputation withdrew after thanking the board. Further reference to the Opunake hospital was made later in the meeting, when correspondence was read concerning the legalising of the transfer of the hospital site to the board. Intimation was received from the Minister of Lands to the effect that no objection would be raised to the board immediately commencing operations, provided the necessary arrangements could be made with the Police Department, who had control at present.