“A BOMBSHELL"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1943, Page 3

“A BOMBSHELL"

LOAN APPLICATION REFUSED FOR WORK OF RESTORATION. AT THE GREYTOWN HOSPITAL. "It is a bombshell,” observed Mr J. . F. Thompson at yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital . Board when the Local Government , Loans Board referred back an applica- ' tion for a loan to enable earthquake ■ damage restoration work to be carried out at the Greytown Hospital. The Loans Board stated in a letter to the Hospital Board that it considered that the Greytown Hospital should not be , extended. A deputation comprising the chairman. Mr H. H. Mawley, and Messrs Thompson. W. B. Martin and Norman Lee (Managing-Secretary) was set up to interview the secretary of the Loans Board or the Minister of Health with a view to having the application reconsidered. Mr Thompson said that many years ago the board's policy was decided and approved by the Department of Health. The Loans Board had wide powers, but surely ho said the matter was one for the Department of Health to decide. The matter went back to centralisation. Twelve years ago when the Greytown Hospital was closed down, it was reopened with the approval of the then Minister for Health. (Mr Young). The loan was required to replace essential buildings like the morgue, and earthquake damaged buildings and to replace the existing men’s ward. In no way was the board’s policy being altered. Institutions like Greytown and Pahiatua were ancilliary to the Masterton Hospital. Unfortunately the Loans Board thought Greytown Hospital should only be an old men’s home. Mr Mawley: "That is what the letter means.” Mr Thompson said board members would well remember the “battle” when an attempt was made to centralise at the Masterton Hospital. Accommodation at the Greytown Hospital was totally unsuitable. It was a question of centralisation or decentralisation. He said the matter should be pressed strongly and he failed to see how the Loans Board could be an arbiter of health policy. There was njo method of appeal and the Loans Board decision was final. Mr Lee said the Loans Board had been fully informed of the board's policy and the position at Greytown Hospital. Mr Thompson observed that he was amazed at the result of the application. If the Loans Board decision stood it meant that eventually the Greytown Hospital would be closed down and the South Wairarapa patients would have to be treated at Masierton.

Mr W. B. Martin said the hospital board’s policy was formed on the insistence of the then Goevrnment and the Health Department. He thought the Loans Board had not been acquainted with the facts. The alterations at Greytown were imperatively necessary. The hospital had to be maintained.

Mr Mawley stated that, like Mr Martin, he had once voted for the closing of the Greytown Hospital. The board had been forced to change its policy to that of decentralisation. The board could not have a two-way policy and should follow up its present policy.

The board decided to send a deputation to the authorities concerned in Wellington.