HOUSES FOR DOCTORS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 February 1947, Page 6

HOUSES FOR DOCTORS

GREY BOARD DECIDES TO , TAKE ACTION “SURGEONS DISSATISFIED” A decision to "take the bull by the horns” and buy a house for the medical superintendent, Dr. S. Barclay, without waiting for the Loans Board to act, was reached by the Greymouth Hospital Board, which met last evening. The urgency of the housing position was discussed and it was pointed out that the board was in danger of losing the services of its superintendent as well as its surgeons if accommodation was not quickly provided for them. The housing situation was discussed for a considerable time by a special committee which met prior to last night’s meeting of the full board, and this committee finally recommended that the board negotiate with Mr. A. M. Jones, the owner of a property, with a view to obtaining a year-to-year lease with the right of renewal, for a house which had been completed in Leith Crescent. “Has To Be Settled” “The housing problem has to be settled as far as this board is concerned,” stated Mr. A. Mosley.. “At present we have our surgeons living in hotels in town and they are dissatisfied and unless we can give them houses they will be looking for other positions.” The special committee’s recommendation was adopted. The board then proceeded to discuss the latest development in its protracted efforts to purchase a house owned by Mr. C. N. Page, the transaction being before the Land Sales Committee on the previous day. It was pointed out that the next step would be to approach the Loans Board for the necessary finance. “That will mean another, year’s wait,” commented the managingsecretary, Mr. J. E. A. McKeefry. “Yes, we have discussed this deal meeting after meeting,” said Mr. T. P. Ryan, “and we want no more delay. ’ Can’t we do something to see that our doctors are put in houses?” He pointed out that it would cost £3,500 to build a house and the board now had a chance to buy a suitable property for £2,500. Mr. H. G. Carter suggested that there would be no delay if it was explained to the Loans Board that the matter was urgent and if at the same time the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, and the Minister of Transport, Mr. O’Brien, were asked to intervene on the board’s behalL "The Bull By The Horns”

“We said before that we must take the bull by the horns and buy the place ourselves and if we do not we will just be backing down,” said the chairman, Mr. J. F. Oakley. Urging the board to be cautious, Mr. Carter pointed out that it had previously been in trouble for precipitate action. “What about the trouble we are going to be in if we lose our medical superintendent and surgeons?” asked Mr. Ryan. “We should ’tell the secretary to go ahead and buy the place and take the risks afterwards,” said the chairman.

It was left to Mr. McKeefry to complete the transaction. Director-General’s Suggestion The Director General of Health wrote recommending that to meet the housing difficulties, the board .should consider purchasing a building site on the south side of High street or use portion of the lower tennis court area. It was decided to reply to the effect that no High street sections were available, that the board could not consider the lower area and that it was proceeding with other arrangements. The Westland Land Sales Committee at its sitting at Hokitika on Monday approved of the sale of a house in Leith Crescent by Mr. C. N. Page to the Grey Hospital Board. The price sought for the property, £2,500, was approved.