GREYTOWN HOSPITAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1943, Page 3

GREYTOWN HOSPITAL

RESTORATION OF EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE LOANS BOARD DECISION CRITICISED. BY MINISTER OF HEALTH. The refusal of the Local Government Loans Board to sanction the raising of a loan by the Wairarapa Hospital Board to carry out urgent earthquake and other reconstruction work at the Greytown Hospital resulted in a meeting being held at Greytown at the weekend. Mr Trevor Beetham presided and there were also present, the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer; the Minister of Lands, Mr Roberts; - Messrs W. B. Martin, J. F. Thompson and the medi cal superintendent and matron of the Greytown Hospital, and the ManagingSecretary, Mr Norman Lee. Mr J. F. Thompson, a member of the board, said the hospital served an area from Carterton to Palliser Bay with a population of 12,000. The Government and not the Loans Board was the arbiter. He'detailed the extent of earthquake damage and the unsuitability of the buildings. Mr Nordmeyer said, after reading the correspondence from the Loans Board, that he thought a questionable decision Qidd been made. As the local bodies and the community had raised no objection and the Health Department had recommended that the proposals be considered, the Loans Board had exceeded its function. On a previous occasion the decision of the Loans Board had to be reversed and although the board served a very useful purpose it could not be allowed to dictate the health policy of the Dominion. From an examination of the plans he could see nothing extravagant, nor anything to justify the Loans Board in arriving at its conclusions. The board presumably came to its decision with an imperfect knowledge of the facts, Mr Nordmeyer added, and centralisation at Masterton was not the point of •issue. It was necessary that good accommodation should be available for sick people and it was very desirable that the theatre block should provide facilities to ensure the performance of the best possible work.

The Minister assured the board that he agreed as to the necessity of the work and that he would take steps to have approval granted. After an inspection of the buildings, Mr Nordmeyer said he was more than satisfied the work was necessary and added that he would give immediate attention to the matter.