URGENT NEED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 118, 12 February 1941, Page 6

URGENT NEED

Increase In Hospital Accommodation

COMMENT BY MINISTER

Serious Overcrowding In Wellington

“1 lie question ol overcrowding is even more serious than I imagined.'’ said the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, when referring yesterday to the inspection lie had made the previous day of the Wellington Public Hospital to acquaint himself with the hospital facilities available in Wellington. The Minister added that whatever decision was made about the Centennial block it was quite clear that some increased accommodation would have to be found without delay.

Mr. Nordmeyer said Hie need was particularly urgent because they did not know when a large number of soldier patients might have to be accommodated at very little notice. He bad been authorized by his colleague, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, to stale that exchange difficulties would not be permitted to stand in the . way of new hospital construction. If it were physically possible to bring to this country the material required and to engage the labour required, the necessary overseas funds would be made available. , The completion of the new soldiers block at the Wellington Hospital within the next mouth or so and the speeding up of the uew hospital at the Hutt would provide temporary relief, but it was obvious that the position could never be satisfactory till the accommodation at Wellington Hospital itself was substantially increased. Asked concerning the hospital continuing to use the old Newtown School building, Mr. Nordmeyer said that as lie was to receive a deputation from the school committee on this matter shortly, lie would not comment in the men nt ime.