HOSPITAL REQUIREMENTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 11 December 1913, Page 3

HOSPITAL REQUIREMENTS.

BUILDING FOR EKETAHUNA. The demands of the residents of Eketahuna for the establishment of a cottage hospital, or some suitable substitute in that township, which have been before the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for some time, were satisfactorily dealt with at yesterday's meeting of the board in Masterton. A deputation from Eketahuna, consisting of Messrs A. H. Herbert, J. G. Wales, W. B. Matheson, and W. Morris, waited on the board in connection with the matter. v Mr W. B. "Matheson desired to know what had been done in connection with the proposal to establish a hospital at Eketahuna. They were not quite sure of the position, or what the board..intended to do. This was the reason for the deputation waiting upon tho board. The resolutions.,which had been previously passed in reference to the matter were then read by the; secretary. It was eplained to the deputation that the board had agreed to erect a cottage with ,an emergency room for the use of patients, and a district nurse could be obtained from Masterton. The deputation stated that they did not desire a cottage hospital. They were willing to agree to the board's proposal, but were of opinion that a caretaker should, be appointed! to look after the building during the absence of the nurse. They could obtain the services of a caretaker in return for residence there. The chairman pointed out that as soon as the money and land were handed over to the board the proposed work would be carried out. \ After further ' discussion. Mr Ewington said that thematter should be brought to finality, and plans, which Dr Valintine had approved of, should be approved or otherwise, as the board considered , advisable. ' . The 'chairman 'moved that a committee of three, in conjunction with two members of the Eketahuna executive, draw up plans for a building as suggested at, Eketahuna. He proposed that .the board's members be, Messrs Ewington, Fisher and Dawson. The Eketahuna committee, could appoint their own members. . Mr Bennett seconded the motion. Mr Beetham said if it were decided to establish an institution at Eketahuna the question of npkeep must be taken into consideration. Was it the board's intention to set aside a sum of money for this purpose, and if so, what amount? ' - ■ The chairman stated that if a building were erected, the board would be responsible for its upkeep. Mr D. McLeod said he had always" been against the proposal to erect a cottage hospital at Eketahuna, and would continue, to vote against it. He did so because he was thoroughly convinced the principle was a bad one. Mr Moore endorsed Mr McLeod's opinion. Mr D. J. Cameron said he would oppose the erection of a hospital at Eketahuna. From iris observations of what was happening in- other parts of New Zealand, he had come to the conclusion that. suph. .'• an institution was not needed. If it were needed ,he would be the first to give the proposal his support. The district was very well supplied with hospitals. There wei'e few districts in the Dominion so well catered for ag the Wairarapa. He instanced other parts, where the population was equally as large, not nearly so well supplied with hospitals as tins district. After further discussion the motion of the chairman was put to the meeting and carried. SUB-COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The report of the sub-committee was submitted to the board after the luncheon adjournment. Mr Fisher, chairman of the gubt committee, stated that the plans, which had been approved by Dr Valintine, Chief Health Officer, had been carefully gone into. The building proposed to be erected at'Eketahuna would contain a kitchen, sittingroom, three bedrooms, an emergency ward and conveniences. The estimated cost was £750, of which £SOO was already guaranteed, and as it carried a subsidy, the total amount available would be about £llOO. He did not think that anything could be added that would entitle the building to be termed a cottage hospital in any shape or form. The only other, provision was that the cottage should have hospital windows in the emergency ward. ,Mr Fisher then moved the adoption of the siib-committee's report. Mr J. C. Ewington, in seconding the notion, r-aid he was of opinion that the building, as submitted in the plans, was exactly the kind of building Dr Valintine had in his mind when he approved of the plans presented by the Eketahuna committee. Mr Dawson supported the motion, which, on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. In answer tot a question by a member of the deputation, the chairman stated that the work would be put in hand as soon as possible.