OBSTETRIC HOSPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 21716, 10 May 1934, Page 8

OBSTETRIC HOSPITAL

SAVINGS BANK OFFER CITY COUNCIL'S APPRECIATION Appreciation of the offer of the trustees of the Dunedin Savings Bank to give £6,000 to the Hospital Board towards the cost of the proposed Obstetric Hospital was expressed at last night’s meeting of the City Council, which adopted a resolution urging the Government to accede to the Hospital Board’s request for the immediate erection of the hospital. The Mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox) said that the council had noticed with pleasure the offer of the trustees of the Dunedin Savings Bank to the Hospital Board. That offer was conditional, and it might help the position if the council recommended to the Government acceptance of the offer. Mr Cox moved that the council urge the Government to accede to th 6 request of the Hospital Board for the immediate erection of the Obstetric Hospital by providing £20,000 to supplement the grant of £3,000 subsidy from the Fund and £6,000 from the Dunedin Savings Bank, with the St. Helens site as promised some years ago. The Mayor pointed out that there would he no need for the Government, if it approved of the request, to provide any fund at the moment, as the £6,000 would meet any cost towards the end of this financial year. This work and the erection of the administration block at the hospital would relieve unemployment in the city. Cr Borrie seconded the motion, and said that the Government had long delayed with its promise for the building of this hospital. It was high time the Government came forward and gave the money. Cr F. Jones said he was sure all councillors would endorse the resolution. They must express their thanks to the Dunedin Savings Bank for its offer. Out of the profits made it had given gifts for many worthy objects in the city. The'motion was carried. ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER URGED. The executive of the Chamber of Commerce lias sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister: — “ The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce strongly urges the acceptance of the offer bv the Dunedin Savings Bank of £6,000 'for the new hospital building.” The Otago Expansion League to-day sent the following telegram to the Prime Minister: —“In the interest of the nation’s mothers the Otago Expansion League urges Government approval of the Dunedin Savings Bank’s offer.”

GENEROUS GIFT

MAY STIMULATE GOVERNMENT ACTION [Per United Press Association.] STRATFORD, May 9. Dx- Doris Gordon, secretary of the New Zealand Obstetrical Society, commenting on the offer of the Dunedin Savings Bank of £6,000, expressed the "Tatitwde of the society for the generous gift towards the building of i the obstetrical hospital. She said that women’s welfare interests had been battling to get the hospital for six years. The Government originally promised to build a hospital at a cost of £50,000. At present £30,000 was computed as the cost. In February last the Minister of Health (Mr Young), in a conference with the Otago Hospital Board, stated that the Government would give the first£lo,ooo(if the Hospital Board could raise £IO,OOO by levy, after which the Government would give the final £IO,OOO as a subsidy on the levy. The Otago board replied: “You give the £20,000 right out and wo will build the hospital to the specifications.” Continuing, Dr Gordon said it was obvious that the cost to the Government was equal whichever way tne offers read, yet the women s interests had waited three months for the Government's reply to the Otago boards suggestion. Women electors all oyer the dominion were chafing at the delay which allowed this vital matter to lie pigeonholed pending a more auspicious day for Ministerial action. In view ot the unanimous mandates from the women of New Zealand that the Government should . spend this relatively small sum, it was imped that the Dunedin Savings Bank’s offer would be immediately accepted by the Government.