NEW CASHMERE HOSPITAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27051, 28 May 1953, Page 3

NEW CASHMERE HOSPITAL

queen Unlikely to lay FOUNDATION STONE Reference to the proposal that Her Majesty the Queen be asked to lay the foundation stone at the new Cashmere Hospital, and 6 leading article in “The Press” on the subject was made at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday by Mr J. J. Brownlee. .... “There is a motto. ‘Nihil utile qu.od non honestum,’ ” Mr Brownlee said. “This proposal was given such a thrashing by the editorial staff of ‘The Press’ that they might be interested in the Prime Minister’s letter. If ‘The Press’ follows its motto, they will also publish this, that if theie was any discourtesy, it originated from the Prime Minister, who asked that a letter be sent to him, and also asked that the arguments he says were presented so eloquently be presented in the letter.” The letter from Mr Holland read: “I have read with much interest your letter asking that I endeavour to get the Queen to lay the foundation stone of the new Christchurch Hospital. I have also read lengthy newspaper reports on the same subject. ® “I recently received a deputation which included Dr. J. J. Brownlee on the same subject. Dr. Brownlee put forward the case most eloquently, and at some length. Your letter makes out a most appealing cas?. “It would give me the greatest pleasure to assist in the very worthy plan you have in mind. I have already discussed the itinerary in detail withHer Majesty and with Palace officials, I am in this difficulty. It has been decided at the Palace that there will be only one foundation stone-laying ceremony performed by the Queen, and that is to carry out a promise made to the late King George VI. and which the Queen has personally expressed a wish to honour. “It is therefore With extreme regret that I am unable to hold out any hope of a successful response to your most moving request. I will, however, bear the matter in mind, as I think it extremely likely that the itinerary will be the subject for further discussion when I am in London.”