SOLDIERS' WARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1941, Page 7

SOLDIERS' WARD

COUNCIL'S PROTEST

THE BOARD AGREES

The City Council at its last meeting, while not objecting to the provision of full hospital facilities for soldiers in Trentham Camp and elsewhere in the Wellington district, did not agree that Wellington district ratepayers should be called upon to pay for facilities to serve men from all parts of New Zealand. The cost of the soldiers' emergency ward of 100 beds to be erected at Lower Hutt, the council maintained, should be a charge upon the War Expenses Account or national funds, and the proposal was made that the Hospital Board should join in a deputation to place that view before the Government.

The council's letter came before the board last night. The chairman, Mr. F. Castle, said that the finance and policy committee of the board had already made similar representations to the Minister of Health, and if they went along with the City Council they would simply be repeating what had been conveyed. The Minister had agreed to give more consideration to the matter, but in the meantime the board would go on with the building, said Mr. Castle.

Mr. H. F. Toogood, chairman of the building committee, said that the kitchen block at Lower Hutt should be ready by April, when it would be required for soldier patients. Another report to the board stated that Ministerial approval had been received for the erection of two 100-bed emergency blocks at Lower Hutt (one for soldiers), including electrical and steam services, boiler-house and equipment, at an estimated cost of £78,000, provided the board took steps to obtain validating legislation to expenditure incurred prior to the Loans Board authority.