DECISION WELCOMED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 8

DECISION WELCOMED

COMMENT BY BOARD AND COUNTY CHAIRMAN

Pleasure at the decision of the Cabinet to use gas at the new Cashmere Hospital was expressed yesterday by the chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mr V. C. Lawn) and the chairman of the Heathcote County Council 'Mr F. W. Freeman). Both expressed the view that the use of gas should eliminate the nuisance feared by residents of the district from the use of coal.

-Although the board had hoped to be allowed to use electricity it had “come out of the argument very well indeed.’’ in Mr Lawn's opinion. The board’s main reasons for pressing for the installation of gas had been its insistence on the aim of a clean hospital. From the information now available, it appeared that this object would be attained by the installation qf gas. “We will at least have an installation that on the figures supplied will be cheaper than electricity, although a little dearer than coal,'’ Mr Lawn added.

Mr Lawn received advice of the Government’s decision by telephone from the Minister of Health (Mr J. R. Marshall) yesterday morning. The decision would give much satisfaction to the residents of Cashmere, Spreydon and Halswell, said Mr Freeman. The Cabinet was to be complimented on arriving at its recommendation.