PROPOSED HOSPITAL IN HUTT VALLEY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 91, 12 January 1926, Page 8

PROPOSED HOSPITAL IN HUTT VALLEY

PETONE BOROUGH COUNCIL REJECTS SCHEME As far as the Petone Borough Council is concerned some finality in connection with the proposal to provide an up-to-date hospital in the Hutt Valley was reached at a meeting of that body last night. . . ' ' The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McEwan) said that the movement was by uto means a new one, as some years ago it had been fully considered, and was then turned down* by the Health Department, mainly on the ground that the modern tendency was towards centralisation. He did not see that the council could favour the scheme. The cost of' appliances alone would be no small item. He did not consider that the expenditure would be warranted. "Even if the hospital were erected on ilie site proposed it would be nearly as far from some of the patients as is the present hospital,” said Councillor Jacobsen. “The Wellington Hospital is by no means overcrowded, and until the medical men Express the opinion that a new hospital is necessary we should not be in a hurry to move. I move that a reply to that effect be sent to the Hutt Borough Council.” Councillor Brocklebank said that it was not the initial outlay that had to be considered so much as the upkeep. It would be possible to raise a loan, but it would probably be found that the cost to the borough would be a little more than was paid at present. Another factor that had to be taken into consideration was that some difficulty might be experienced in disposing of their present liability. The present hospital was serving its purpose admirably, and it woujd be advisable not to proceed with the proposal. The motion was carried unanimously.