FURTHER DEFERRED

Evening Star, Issue 20853, 24 July 1931, Page 5

FURTHER DEFERRED

NEW INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL

ERECTION AT WAKARI DISCUSSED BOARD ACTS ON GROUNDS OF ECONOMY The proposal to build a new infectious diseases hospital at Wakan to replace tho present hospital at Lake Logan, for which the sum of £20,000 has been set aside, was further deferred as a result of a discussion at last night’s meeting of tho Otago Hospital Hoard. Included in tho report of tho Finance Committee was tho following recommendation :—‘ ‘ That this board proceed with the erection of the infectious diseases hospital buildings at Wakari.” Tho Chairman of the committee (Mr A. F. Quelch) said ho did not agree with the recommendation, and he moved that it bo referred back. If the building were erected at Wakan the board’s maintenance expense would be increased very considerably. Hoard members know that tho experience was that additions to buildings involved more expense for maintenance, infectious disease cases required prompt attention, and a hospital at Wakan would make such attention difficult. Further, the financial position at present made it a most inopportune time to build. Ho represented a section of the ratepayers who were already finding difficulty in paying their rates, and recently a largo number had waited on a local body at Mosgiel and declared that they were not m a position to pay. Those would be the people who would be asked to pay more rates if tho hospital were built. It was a question, whether or not Wakari v.as the best site for the hospital, as many would find expense in reaching Wakari. Wakari was not well situated. The board would bo well advised to seek the advice of those with experience as to tho suitability of the site for an infectious diseases hospital. “ I know that tho people in the district I represent are pretty hard up,” said Mr W. B. Morgan. “ They are a farming community. Much as 1 would like to see tho erection of the hospital gone on with, I do not think it would bo right at the present, time to call on them to pay more rates for the hospital.” The motion was strongly opposed by Mr J. W. Dove. Both Mr Quelch and Mr Morgan were members of toe board when additional property was acquired at Wakari for an infectious diseases hospital site. The Charman (Mr W. E. S. Knight) ; Quite right. Mr Morgan: No. Mr Dove: Mr Quelch was a member. 1 oppose the motion because there is no argument against tho proposal so far as Mr Quelch is concerned. The ratepayers will have to meet no increased rate this year for the hospital. A Member; But next year they will., Mr Dove said he hoped things would be in a much better state next year. A Member. Worse! “I am an optimist,” said Mr Dove. Ho believed that conditions were on tho upward trend. Although bolding down clients, the banks were telling them that the position was improving, and he was confident that by September 31 conditions would be different. A more opportune time than the present for building had not presented itself, as unemployment was serious. Thp architect had estimated that about fifty men would be employed , for nearly twelve months on the building. By starting tho building the board would be helping the unemployment situation, and that alone should be an inducement to proceed. The last two contracts tendered for jobs of any magnitude in Dunedin were from £SOO to £BOO below the architects’ estimates, although the architects had made, liberal allowance for a 10 per cent, reduction in wages. With all duo respect to Mr Quelch’s opinion of the site, tho board had already committed itself, said Mr Dove. It would not be to the board’s credit if, after acquiring a site, it started to look for another property. The' motion was brought forward simply to stave off tho building proposal. Ho repre sented both town and country ratepayers, and he knew that the country people wanted a hospital where tljey could get the best treatment. It was perfectly true that tho existing hospital had served tho board’s purpose, but tho time was opportune to make a forward move, if for no other reason than to assist artisans who were unemployed. Already £20,000 had been struck for the building, and he was bold enough to say that when tenders were called again they would bo much below the previous tenders of £30,000. The distance from tho city to Wakari counted for nothing, motor transport making tho distance negligible., Mr D. M'Leiman disagreed with Mr Dove’s opinion that the building should be erected at the present time. If Mr Dovo bad the slightest ideas as to what the country people had to put up witn at present on the question of £.s.d. ho would not contemplate a building scheme for a moment.

Mr Dovo; I know something about

Mr M‘Lennan: I do not think you know much or you would not suggest building. I know tho feelings oi the country people and tfio hardships that they have to contend with, Airs Marshall Macdonald said she would strongly support Mr Dove. They all knew that the new hospital was a necessity. If tho building were not proceeded with, a great deal of money would have to bo spent on the existing hospital, which was described some years ago by Dr M'Kibbiu, of the Health Department, as a “ rabbit warren.” Tho erection of the building

would also be of 'great assistance to tho unemployed. Airs Walter Ross supported Air Dove, it was about time that the board relieved the present hospital staff of its added responsibilities, it was to the credit of. the staff that the board had not had more trouble in the past. “ What worries me is that we know perfectly well that we have to study economy at tho present time,” said the Chairman. It is not so much that 1 am opposed to the erection of the building, but wo would bo accepting a big responsibility on behalf of the ratepayers. The mantenanco costs would add considerably to next year’s levy. Wo did not make a levy on ratepayers for capital purposes this year, making a saving to tho ratepayers of £12,000 and to the Government ol £13,000. A suggestion was made quite recently to the North Canterbury Board "by tho department that the board should lease some of its institutions in the interests of economy. That would not have been thought o some years ago. And Dr AJ'Kibbin would not come down and say that tho Lake Logan hospital was to-day a ‘ rabbit warren.’ ” Mr Dove: You have been told that the Government is not raising any opposition. Mr Knight: They will, The Govern ment will turn us uowu bn the grounds of economy. Dr W. Newlands said the board should refer tho clause back to the committee, yet not with the idea ot deferring tho proposal indefinitely. The first thing the board should do was to build a new massage department. The present department was growing and fulfilling a very big work in the community, and the present place was totally unsuitable: in fact, it had never been suitable. Such a work would not involve any increased. maintenance worth speaking of, and the board could then consider the erection of tho very necessary lever hospital buildins.

Air Callaway; AVe promised a now car, eye, nose, and throat department before a massage hospital. The motion to refer the olaofte took wag carried.