"DEPLORABLE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 298, 17 December 1930, Page 8

"DEPLORABLE."

kitche;; at hospital

DISGRACE TO AUCKLAND.

SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED

OPINIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS,

"It is like the Irishman's gun —it wants a new lock, stock and barrel," was how the kitchen at the hospital was described by a member of the Hospital Board yesterday afternoon. Some very plain speaking was indulged in, and judging from the remarks passed and the strong terms used the kitchen must be in a deplorable state. The house committee, consisting of Mrs. Kidd, Messrs. Wallace (chairman), Howitt, Savage and Wood, had been on a visit of inspection and in their report they stated: "The main kitchen _ has been frequently condemned, and it is in a most deplorable condition. Your committee is of the opinion that the whole of the kitchen and store room attached thereto ehould be immediately renovated and most of the kitchen apparatus scrapped." When the board had heard what members of the committee had to say about their visit it was unanimously decided to have the architect prepare plans and specifications for a new kitchen. "Throw Down the Gauntlet I" "It's a disgrace to the institution and a disgrace to Auckland," said the chairman of "the board. "The money has been on the estimates for four or five years and the erection of a new kitchen has had to be put off time and again. Now the time has come for us to throw the gauntlet down, and say to the Health Department that the buildin* of a new kitchen has simply *ot to be done. I feel quite sure that the people of Auckland would not give the board any kudos for allowing the kitchen to remain as it is. It is insanitary and disgraceful. We must not tolerate it any longer. The Department must be told at once that a new kitchen is needed and if it is not done then the board ehould go on and do it and never mind the consequence?." "It's a Crying Scandal." "Absolute horror" was expressed by Mr Wood at the state of affairs. He was of the opinion that it would be folly to attempt to do anything with the present establishment. '(The _ corners are in a most unsavoury condition, Mr. Wood continued. "And not only is the kitchen in a deplorable condition generally, it is dirty—absolutely dirty. Food storage is most repulsive. After describing the interior of the kitchen in detail, Mr. Wood finished up by remarking, "And that's the kind of thing that is going on in this wonderful inetitution, which has been referred to ae a base hospital. It is certainly beautiful outside with its grounds, views and gardens, but the inside of that kitchen is a crvinjT scandal." "I think Mr. Wood has overdrawn the picture," said Mr. Potter, amidst a chorus of "Noes." The speaker went on to explain that the building committee had had the erection of a new kitchen in mind for some years. Mr. Potter traced the building programme of the board, and said it had gradually teen building so ta to bring all premises nearer to the main building. That was the decided policy of the board, and it had been definitely decided to 1 rebuild a kitchen from, which all the main services could be supplied with economy and efficiency. Inefficiency Elsewhere Allegea. Mr. Parvin agreed with Mr. Wood, and was emphatic that the state of affaire should be immediately altered. X Mrs. Kidd, in endorsing everything that had been said about the present kitchen, concluded her remarks by stating that the board should do everything in its power to remedy the deplorable conditions. Mr. Kbwe was surprised to hear oi the state the kitchen was in. He was emphatic that the Government's hands should be forced in the matter. "If you were to double the size of the present kitchen you would only double the amount of the dirt, and I am quite serious when I make that statement," said Dr. Gunson. To his mind it appeared as if the administration had broken down, and it ■was about time that the board put its house in order. There was inefficiency in other parts of the hospital as well ae that shown in the kitchen. The position did not reflect on the DirectorGeneral of Health nor on the officers of the board, but on the board itself.

Placing the Blame. "Iβ it a fair thing to place the whole responsibility on the people who ar* in charge?" asked Mr. Savage. If we cive people the proper facilities to work with then they will do their job. What is the use of blaming those who are doing their best under the circumBtances? Why, with that old brick floor it would have to be hosed all the time to keep it clean. If members want to know whose fault it is that things are in such a deplorable condition up there, then I say its mine and every member of the board's. The room is quite unsuitable. We will never have a clean kitchen till we have a building that can be kept clean." In conclusion, Mr. Savage advocated that the matter be taken up with the Minister and Health Department at once, and if nothing was done shortly, then the board should go ahead and do the job itself.