HOSPITAL LOAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 271, 14 November 1936, Page 21

HOSPITAL LOAN.

COUNCIL OBJECTS.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON. INFORMATION INSUFFICIENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Because members of the council considered that sufficient information about the proposals had not been given the Wellington City Council decided to lodge formal objection to the proposal to raise £1100,000 for extending the Wellington Public Hospital and to send a deputation to seek a fuller explanation of its plans from the Hospital Board. The board sent to the council formal notice of its intention.

The Mayor, Mr. T. A. C. Hislop, said the sum was large, but would be spread over a large period. AVliilc hospitals were run as they were and money was found as it was, the council could not object, although there might be better ways of financing hospitals. The council could really do little, although it had the right to object. Mr. C. H. Chapman, M.P., said the Hospital Board had large arid growing responsibilies, but the council should have full information as to why the loan was necessary. He suggested that a small committee could meet the board. Was Work Warranted? Mr. W. Appleton supported this view. He said tiiat the council had to levy the rate and collect it. The sum was very large, and he was not sure the work was warranted, because he understood tho board was going to scrap buildings erected in comparatively recent years. He was not sure either that the hospital should bo concentrated in Wellington.

Mr. R. A. Wriglit, M.P., said the council would be blamed for the rate by the ratepayers. The only way councillors could justify the collecting of the rate was by having a firm grip of the position, and the proposal should certainly be discussed with the board.

The Mayor suggested that a purely formal objection might be lodged and a committee of the council could meet the board to secure full information. Wellington had to find 40 per cent of the sum.

Mr. R. McKeen, M.P., said that the Hospital Board members no doubt thought the work essential, and it was hardly for the council to sit in judgment. He would oppose any objection to the loan. It would not be well for anything to happen that would be interpreted outside as opposition to the necessary extension of the hospital. High Hospital Rate. Mr. A. Black said the main question was whether the work was necessary, and he thought it was. Subhospitals entailed heavy expense for equipment, and the staff had to be duplicated. Mr, M. F. Luckie said there was a great deal to be said against one large hospital. It tended to attract patients who did not live in the hospital district or contribute to the hospital rates. Wellington had a high hospital rate and would have a higher one. Hospital expenditure was rising, and the council should he sure that further expenditure was essential before approving of it. The council should enter a formal objec-

Mr. Hislop: We should remember this: whether they centralise or decentralise it, we will still have to pay our proportion.

Mi*. Wright moved that the council should enter a formal objection to the loan on the ground tiiat the information given was not sufficient for the council. The motion was seconded by Mr. Appleton and carried by eight votes to five. A motion that a committee should wait on the board was also carried.