CARE OF SICK

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32346, 13 October 1943, Page 5

CARE OF SICK

RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARD

'REPLY TO COUNTY COUNCIL

A request from the Ohinemuri County Council that the hoard give the question of the proposed expenditure on hospital additions at Thames further serious consideration came before Tuesday’s meeting of the Thames Hospital Board. The Ohinemuri County Council wrote as under:— . -

“My Council was informed at its last meeting of the /proposed expenditure by your board for a new hospital at Thames. The council was very concerned at the high cost and after a lengthy discussion I was directed to advise your board that it is the opinion of this council that the existing facilities’ should, if possible, be made use of until such time as new buildings, furnishings and equipment can he provided at a lower cost than the present level of ’prices.

I was also instructed to urge vour' board in the meantime to proceed only with preliminary arrangements and 1 such work as may be necessary in order to make possible the erection of the main buildings as soon as conditions’ are more favourable.

“My council trusts that you willp give further serious consideration to this matter.”

The chairman, Mr P. E. Brenan, stated that he fully appreciated that the time was not opportune for building and he knew the board also appreciated the position. However, the board was faced with the duty of providing for sick people of the district. The board would not spend more than was necessary to provide for the sick people of the area. The sum of £lOO,000 would not be spent in the next year.

Continuing, Mr Brenan said he realised the present system of hospital rating was not just, the land owned having to pay a large portion of the cost of maintenance of the institutions. It was decided to reply along the lines of the chairman’s remarks.