HOSPITAL BOARD ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25298, 25 September 1947, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD ELECTION

PROPOSED* CHANGES TO AREAS

LYTTELTON COMBINED WITH CHRISTCHURCH

Proposed alterations to the districts represented on the North Canterbury Hospital Board will give Christchurch and Lyttelton combined 11 seats on the board, instead of the 10 at present allocated to Christchurch. The proposals have been made by the Department of Health, and were considered by the board yesterday. Having regard to the latest available figures of rateable capital value and population, a review of the representation had been made, the department said, and, the absorption of Sumner in the city necessitated an amendment io the combined district of Heathcote. Lyttelton and Sumner.

The districts suggested were: Christchurch and Lyttelton combined. 11 seats: Selwyft, Malvern. Tawera and Ellesmere Counties and the Leeston Town District combined, one seat; Springs, Halswell, and Heathcote Counties combined, one seat. Other districts, and the total number of seats —20 —will not be changed. The Town Clerk of Lyttelton had telephoned him yesterday morning, and said that Lyttelton strongly protested against being included in Christchurch, said the secretary (Mr A. Prentice). Lyttelton considered that its affinity lay on the other side of the hills—with Heathcote and Waiwera Counties. “I think that if Lyttelton objects very strongly the boundaries will be altered again,” said Mr C. Fla veil. Several members said it was unfortunate that country representation was decreasing, while the city was getting more and more seats Mr Flavell: The city provides most of the money, and most of the patients. After the chairman (Mr L. B. Evans) had said that there appeared to be nothing the' board could do about the proposal, the letter from the department was received.