WHANGAREI HOSPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 140, 13 June 1919, Page 6

WHANGAREI HOSPITAL.

NEW WARD OPENED. GREAT WORK BY C.T.S. <By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Thursday. The new wing of the Whangarei Public Hospital was officially opened by the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister for Public Health, this afternoon, in the presence of a large assembly of representative citizens. The new wing has been built entirely out of funds raised by the Auckland Commercial Travellers' Association. Mr. T. Ellis (chairman of tiie Whangarei •Hospital Hoard), before asking the •Minister to perform the official opening' ceremony, dwelt upon the financial aspect of the new ward. lie said that during the past three years the commercial travellers, by their efforts in aid of the hospital, had raided a sum which, with the accompanying Government subsidy, represented fti.liSS. Every brick, tile, and board in the new wing had been purchased out of this fund, so that the wing was built solely by the C.T.S., and those people who gave to this worthy cause. The building contract was responsible for £6,314, and to date a further sum had 'been spent on furniture, yet the C.T_*. fund was still in credit. Owing to the C.T.S. raising such a large sum they had also been enabled to get £2,000 from the Defence Department.

The Hon. (',. W. Russell congratulated the board on the fine work done, and the orchitect on the very fine lay-out and general design, the contractor on having completely truly faithful work, which woold be a credit and honour to Whangarei. The Minister referred to the work done by the commercial travellers in aid of the Northern hospital. Auckland owed a deep debt of obligation to the commercial travellers. So long as the C.T.S. raised their 20/ to the £. so long would he be willing to keep up the subsidy of 24/ to the £. He congratulated the people of Whangarei on having such a fine hospital.

Mr. J. J. Kirkbride, on behalf of the commercial travellers, expressed thanks for the appreciation that had lieon spoken. Their efforts bad not been confined to North Auckland alone. He had one bone to pick with the Hon. <*. \V. Kussell as Minister of Internal Affairs about certain raffies the Commercial Travellers' Soeietv liad held. Although the method or means might be questioned, no one could question the results they had achieved. Mr. 1". Mander, M.P., said the people of Whangarei could be proud of having the most up-to-date hosoital in the North, or in any town of equal size. In this he included the doctor and staff. Dr. Frazerhurst said they had the most up-to-date electrical treatment rooms iv New Zealand. Although originally intended for soldiers, it was equally available for civilians. In the maternity annexe, whicii could compare favourably with any nursing home, patients were treated at an inclusive fee of 35/- per week. All these things were in operation, and he assured the lion. O. YV. Russell that the people of this district would not lag behind in the direction he (the Hon. Russell) had indicated. The new wing opened to-day is to lie utilised as a male ward for soldiers and the general public.