REEFTON NEW HOSPITAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1946, Page 2

REEFTON NEW HOSPITAL

PROTEST AT DELAYS

DEPARTMENTAL INDIFFERENCE ALLEGED

DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT (0.C.) REEFTON, August 8. “That this meeting of the citi-

zens of the county of Inangahua deeply resents and protests most emphatically at the continued delay and obstruction by Government departments, extending over a period of years, in finalising the financial arrangements for the erection of the hospital block and nurses’ home at Reefton. The petty excuses offered for the absence of a decision on this matter and the callous indifference shown by the departments concerned reveal that these departments are not aware that the only results of their inaction can be the complete failure of hospital facilities in this locality.”

The above was the text of a resolution passed at the public meeting hold at Reefton to-night. It was the largest gathering of its type for many years and was organised by the county chairman, at the request of the Inangahua District Progress League. The chairman and members of the Inangahua County Council, the Hospital Board, officers of the Progress League, representatives of the Inangahua Miners’ Union, the Burkes Creek Miners’ ■ Union, _ Farmers’ Unions, the Women’s Institute were in attendance, with many citizens. The county chairman (Cr. J. J. Coghlan) who presided explained that the meeting had been called following a request from the Progress League, which was dismayed at the delay in commencing the new hospital, and the long standing and seemingly fruitless work of the hospital board in completing arrangements.

Negotiations Outlined. . • Mr. J. B. Auld, chairman of the Hospital Board, pointed out that the presence of so many ratepayers from all over the county showed the deep local, interest in the hospital project. It was eight years ago that the Direc-tor-General of Health had advised the Hospital Board that no hiore money could be spent in capital works in. repairing the present hospital buildings. This officer had agreed then that the buildings required replacing. Plans for a 40-bed hospital were put in hand and the board had worked for years in an endeavour to have a new hospital and nurses’ home built. Several deputations had gone to Wellington without success. The board had made a request for a 26/- in the £1 subsidy for new buildings or for a grant of £20,000 and had not received a definite reply to either request. The grant had been requested in 1944 and plans lor the nurses’ home and laundry had now been approved. The board had been advised by the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, to call tend-, ers for the hospital, but were anxious to have the financial matter settled. To date the application lodged by the board before the Loans Board for the necessary authority to raise a loan had not been answered. He felt that if the meeting lodged an emphatic protest, then a prompt decision would be received by the board, who would get somewhere with the hospital. Mr. J. K. Patterson, president of the Inangahua District Progress League traced the steps that his organisation had taken jto bring the question to a head. He believed that unless steps were taken to commence the hospital, ngxt winter ths district would be without hospital accommodation. Since 1944 the plans had been approved and it was estimated that £soo,ooo would bo needed to meet the cost of the proposed new buildings. Government’s Attitude. Mr. Patterson read a telegram sent to the county chairman by the member for the district, Mr. C. F. Skinner, who had been advised of the meeting. The telegram rpad: “With reference to the protest meeting which. I understand is to be held at Reefton to-day. Desire to comment as follows. The Minister of Health is most anxious to assist in erection of new hospital buildings at Reefton. Plans for these buildings have not all been received by Health Department. Until these are available and have been approved by Health and Public Works Departments tenders cannot be let. Reference finance, Minister of Health assures me that the Government will be introducing plan to limit hospital rate and that new buildings at Reelton can go ahead without tear 01. undue burden to ratepayers. Further details of these proposals will be announced shortly.” Mr. Patterson reiterated the statement that unless the new hospital buildings were commenced this summer, Reefton would have no hospital next winter, and the buildings were such that no licence would be granted to cover them to sell milk, much less to care for sick people. Mr. David Hamill, president of the Reefton Coal Mine Owners’ Association said that all wore fully aware of the state of the hospital build mgs. His association was strongly bemud any move made to have a new hospital built and gave the fullest support to any protest.

Support from Unions. Mr. Robert Irving, an officer of the Tnangahua Gold and . Coal Miners Union, said that his union would lend full support to any proposals lor the commencement of the new hospital at Reefton. The union would deal with the matter at'a general meeting next week-end. Mr. R. Haldane, president of the Burke’s Creek Miners’ Union said that his organisation also supporter, the protest. In response to a telegram sent to the member for the district the union had received a similar reply to the one read by Mr. Patterson. ' Mr. P. J. O’Regan for the Inangahua Valley Union, said that a meeting of his union fully supported the protest. He pointed out'that the farmers and all the commumiw would be called on to carry a heavy burden to finance the hospital proposal. He suggested that the Prime Minister should be met when he visited the district and the matter placed before him. Mrs. A. Wells, for the Reefton Women’s Institute and Mr. J. Dellaca, secretaryof the Reefton Business-

men’s Association supported the protest.

Mr. F. W. Archer, who spoke for the hospital staff, pointed out the hardship that the staff worked under. He paid a tribute to the loyalty and service being given to the community by the matron and her staff. He said that the Health Department had spoken, at all times in favour of the new hospital and had been of help to the board, but no progress was made. It was only the self-sacrifice of the hospital staff that kept the institution open. Tribute to Staff. Mr. J. B. Auld also paid tribute to the hospital staff. He said that the Director General of Health was very gratified at the work carried on under immense difficulty. Dr. J. L. Wicken, medical superintendent of the hospital said that in 1939 the hospital had badly needed replacement and referred to the difficulties which the staff worked under. In reply to a question by Mr. W. S. Clark, MT. Patterson said that the estimated cost of the hospital was £lOO,OOO. On a £1 for £1 basis the county would need to find half this sum. Each half penny.in the £ hospital rate (on unimproved value) brought in , £5OO. It was estimated that a 4d rate would cover interest and sinking fund on the sum of £50,000. The crux of the matter was the question of the financial help that the Hospital Board would receive. Mr. J. K. Patterson moved the resolution, which was seconded by Mr. W. S. Clark. It was carried on the voices, there being one dissentient. It was decided that, the protest be forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and the member for the district. ft was decided that an endeavour be made to have the Prime Minister visit Reefion, when he is on the West Coast, and that if this cannot be arranged, tha,t a deputation consisting of the county chairman, the hospital board chairman, presidents of both miners’ unions, of the Coal Mine Owners’ Association, the Progress League, Dr. Wicken, the matron of the hospital, and a representative of the local women’s organisations travel to meat the Prime Minister, and place the matter of the hospital, and the resolution fully before him.