THE CONSUMPTION SANATORIUM.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13230, 25 September 1908, Page 7

THE CONSUMPTION SANATORIUM.

TO ( THE EDITOR OF '"THE PRESS." ' Sir,—The' Hon. Mr Fowlds's statements in regard to the Cashmere Hills Sanatorium are so inaccurate/that it is only fair to the committee that somo correction should bo published. So far from the Health Department cutting down the cosV-of tho buildings, it was the committee that cut down the plans supplied that Department \and incorporated in its annual report. Certainly it suggested that we should buikC in wood instead of brick, but for obvious reasons this wae not agreed to. The Minister-says' that economy was pireached from. Wellington. When Mr Fowlds was in Christchuroh a deputation from the committee waited upoii him, and placed plans and matters freely before him, giving- all details, _ and explaining that they hesitated call-' ing for tenders until the Government grant was assured, and legislation for enabling tho Hospital Boards of Ashburton and North and South Canterbury to amalgamate. The Hon. Mr Fowlds said : "'Go ahead, gentlemen; the subsidy is certain, and I will introduce the required Bill early in ; the session." Then he went to Wellington and forgot all about it, for the Bill was not introduced until tho fag-end of tho session, after he had been several timee reminded pf.it. and then it was such a botch as to be perfectly ■unworkable; while the promise as to the subsidy is still apparently forgotten, so much bo that the Minister actually repudiates it. I think very fewpeople imagine th© extraordinary difficulties and delays the .Sanatorium Committop had to put up with, first in the transfer of the site from those ■ who offered, nnd were quite willing to give it, to the equally willing committee, then in the transfer, of a road, represented by a lino on a map, to a position where only it could be of any use, this alone took months; and finally in? the vacations delay in passing the botched Bill and the subsequent legislation necessary to the amalgamation of the .Hospital Boards, a delay whrch' resulted in tho amalgamation not taking place. So far from the Government "hnving done anything special for Christchurch, it has done as little as pce>ible. and that in the most grudging, dilatory, irritating, and useless manner.—Yours, etc., CANDID CRITIC.