The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1924. THE NEW HOSPITAL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 June 1924, Page 6

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1924. THE NEW HOSPITAL.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby. Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Borleyville, Patea, Waverley, ttokoia, Whakamara, Obangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, and Ararata.

The chairman and members of the Hospital Board are to be commended for the keenness with which they are seeking to have the work of building the new hospital undertaken as early as possible. As pointed out in the discussion at Monday’s meeting of the board, the provision of a new institution is long overdue, and nurses and doctors are working under the difficulties associated with the overtaxed accommodation. The building of a larger and up-to-date hospital on the site acquired five years ago has been delayed for various reasons, but the calls upon the existing institution have steadily increased year hy year as the population of the hospital district has grown, until it is obvious that, unless the new building is erected during the next two or three years, a serious position will arise. 'The question has been before the public- for some ten years past, and there can be but few people who do not know how necessary it is to have the work done. It will cost a large sum of money, but the best efforts are being made to make the load as light as possible for the taxpayers. People, when they fall ill, are entitled to toe best medical care and attention, but unless adequate accommodation. and up-to-date means for treatment are provided, doctors and nurses have to face an added handicap which it is not fair to expect them to face in their great task of fighting disease. The provision of a thoroughly up-to-date hospital with sufficient accommodation to meet the needs of the district which it serves is a duty resting upon the taxpayers, and the fact that it will

cost- a largo sum of money oaunot reasonably be used as an argument against the discharge of that duty. In a civilised country certain necessary institutions and facilities must be provided, irrespective of the cost, and hospitals come within this category. We hope that it will soon be possible for the work to be begun, and that Hawera hospital district will have provision made to meet its requirements for many years to come.