"FIERCE CONTROVERSY."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 194, 18 August 1931, Page 7

"FIERCE CONTROVERSY."

NAPIER AND HASTINGS. HOSPITAL POLICY DISPUTE. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. There are flat differences of opinion between the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board and the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, regarding the alleged delay in providing hospital accommodation tor the district. The board has resolved to ask the three local members to make a protest in the House against the absence of replies from the Minister.

Mr. Stallworthy, to whom these statements were shown, declared: "I have not held up anything five minutes, and not a telegram remains unanswered. The proposals of the board were passed immediately the technical officers approved them, and a letter was immediately sent to the board conveying that approval, notwithstanding that there is fierce *ocal controversy over the board's policy. I also endorsed the board's application to the Loans Board for the money required to complete the programme. The Loans Board has, like myself, been flooded with protests from Hastings against the provision the board decided to make at Napier, but this has not caused delay, while for months past the Health Department's technical officers, under my instruction, have rendered every possible assistance in reconstruction. If the Hawke's Bay Board imagines it has any grievance, this doubtless arises from the heat engendered in the fierce local controversy."