HOSPITAL SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 71, 17 December 1937, Page 12

HOSPITAL SCHEME

Further Investigation Sought

CITY COUNCIL’S STAND

Health Department To Be Asked For Report

A resolution pa-ssed hy the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association, calling upon the city council to appoint a committee to investigate the hospital board’s now building scheme and to report upon the suggestion to establish a hospital in the Hutt A alley came before the council last night. In a general discussion most of the speakers, while admitting the need for improvements, questioned whether the huge expenditure involved in the present scheme was justified. It was decided to ask the Minister of Health for a report from the Health Department upon the desirability of the board’s proposals.

The Ratepayers’ Association advised that at a recent meeting the following motion was carried: —“That this meeting calls upon the Wellington City Council as the main contributory and representing the ratepayers of Wellington to appoint a committee consisting of the mayor and/or chairman of contributory local bodies and two members of its own engineering staff, together with two independent architects and the chairman of the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association, to investigate the possible cost of any needed improvements at the Wellington Hospital, and. to report upon the proposal for a new hospital in the Hutt Valley.” The mayor, Mr/ T. C. A. Hislop, said he thought consideration of the question should be deferred in the meantime. The committee suggested by the ratepayers would not meet the position, as there were no experts on it.

Royal Commission Urged.

Cr. W. Appleton said that a Royal. Commission was needed. The expenditure of such an enormous sum of money was scandalous.

Mr. Hislop: I have already made my own views quite clear. The whole thing requires very careful re-examination. Cr. A. Black said that sick people should not be driven into private hospitals merely to suit the medical profession. It was not fair to suggest there were no medical experts on the hospital board. A hospital in the Hutt Valley would mean duplication of staff and equipment, and altogether it would be a costly business. Cr. P. Butler said that even with a hospital in the Hutt the ratepayers would still be liable for 40 per cent, of the cost. He was confident that 80 per cent, of the opposition to the board’s scheme would disappear if the Government stepped jn and announced that it was prepared to meet the whole cost.

Mr. 'Hislop: My point has always been that tlie cost is so enormous that if it is to "be borne by, the ratepayers alone, it requires meticulous examination. The ratepayers are entitled to full details.

Cr. T. Brindle: I think that is a fair attitude. Some time or other we will have to have a hospital in the Hutt, but that does not do away with the fact that we must have a well-equipped and up-to-date hospital in the city itself. “Grossly Overcrowded.” Cr. C. H. Chapman said the hospital was grossly overcrowded. If there was one thing they should do it was to look after the sick. Provision must be •made to avoid undue delay in admission. The board had spent months and months on the scheme. The advice of experts had been sought and given. Cr. Wright: What experts? Cr. Chapman: I can’t name them, but I know they were experts. Cr. Butler: Is the scheme urgent? Cr. Chapman: Yes, there is no question about that. Why then should we interfere? Cr. Wright: Because we have to find the money. The proposal is too elaborate. It will cost £1,060,000. Cr. Brindle: What would you cut out? Cr. Wright: I am not an expert on building. The experts are not all agreed about the need for spending such a large sum. The council can’t go on increasing the rales. Cr. W. Duncan said the sooner the work was put.in hand the better for everybody.

Cr. J. Read moved that the council ask the Minister of Health to instruct the Health Department to report upon the desirability of going on with the scheme propounded by the board. The motion was seconded by Cr. A. Parlane.

Cr. M. F. Luckie: I don’t think we will achieve much (hat way. It is like asking a defendant to report on his own case.

Doubling (lie Kates. Mr. Hislop said nobody was denying that the hospital was overcrowded. He did not think departmental reports were of much value. lie had never yet heard of a department recommending an inexpensive scheme. Tlie best was all right if one could afford to pay for it. The cost of the new scheme was so great that it would nearly double the rates, and that would be a serious matter for 22,000 people who had to pay them.

“Even if it was proved right up to the hilt that this huge expenditure is justified—and I am by no means satisfied that it has been proved—then in my opinion some different method of financing the hospital should be found,” added Mr. Hislop. “The burden should be removed from this small body of ratepayers and placed on the whole of New Zealand through’ the Consolidated Fund. lam going to require a lot of convincing before I come to the conclusion that a scheme involving £1,000,000 is necessary for a place with a population of a little over 100,000. An investigation by an impartial and expert tribunal is wanted.” The motion was carried, Cr. Duncan being the only dissentient.