HOSPITAL BUILDING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 10

HOSPITAL BUILDING

Feilding’s Claim Advanced

Dominion Special Service.

PALMERSTON N., February 18. When the Palmerston North Hospital Board al its monthly meeting had before it proposals for the expenditure of £128,000 on buildings, Mr. V. E. Smilli, representative of Feilding borough, criticized the Jack of action on the part ot the board in not providing a hospital m Feilding. It was pointed out by the chairman, Air. J. A. Nash, that Feilding had failed to provide iaud as a site, which had been done both in Palmerston North and at Awupuni. Mr. Smith said he had remained quiet on the subject for a long time, hoping that some of the other members would bring forward Fetlding’s claims to having a hospital of its own. Such a provision would relieve the pressure on the main hospital in Palmerston North, if the Feilding people did not get belter treatment than they had received up to the present they were prepared to use bolder measures.

'l’lie chairman said the board had not in any way tried to side-track Feilding. If a maternity hospital were provided in Feilding another would be wanted at Otaki or Levin. Was it lhe ease that if a maternity hospital were opened m Feilding one of the hospitals there now would have to close? Air. Smith: There is no possibility of that Happening. The eimiimnn said the board was in the hands ol the Government. Further, it. was cu.-iomary for those places which desired hospitals’ to do something toward tin- project themselves. The hind in Awapnni was given to the board, that for the District Maternity Home had been presented, the cost to the board being only £'looo. The board bad asked that Feilding give some land, but the Feilding Borough Council itad decided to take no action. One would have thought that Air. Smith would have approached the Feilding Borough Council. Mr. Smith said he did not consider it correct liiat because some persons had presented land in the past elsewhere Feilding should have to raise money to buy In nd.

It wits pointed out that Palmerston North had raised £5OOO for the District Maternity Home. Mr. Smith said lie wanted to see some sort of a public hospital established in Feilding, and lie thought the board should buy the site. Feilding was the only town of its size in the North Island which did not have some sort- of a hospital. Mr. M. Id. I’errean commented that if a discussion were allowed as to whether or not Feiidinir should have a hospital he would like the opportunity of pressing the claims of the southern part of the board's district for similar provisions. Mr. A. Id. Mans-ford suggested that if Feilding wished to have a public hospital it was for the residents there to prove that the buildings could be built more cheaply and the administration carried through al less cost than could be done in Palmerston North If that were possible there would be no doubt about the hospital board providing the buildings there. The discussion was not carried further.