IS IT SUITABLE?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32912, 22 September 1947, Page 5

IS IT SUITABLE?

THAMES HOSPITAL SITE OPINIONS ON THE PLAINS “DEPRESING OUTLOOK” Opinions as to the suitability of the site of the hospital ait Thames were expressed at the September meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council and while most of the members considered it not the best, they thought that under the conditions existing today, no change was possible. The subject was first raised by Mr W. H. C'heale who stated that at a recent meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce members had decided to seek the opinion of the Hauraki Plains representatives on the •hospital' board regarding the suitability of the site. People in Paeroa realised that there must -be a hospital in Thames but thought that the present’ buildings should be modernised into a small hospital and that the principal hospital of the district should be erected on another site. They did not think that aver a quarter •of a million should be spent on the present hospital site. Paeroa, he continued, did not wish to be parochial regarding the site of the hospital but it was thought that the present one was not satisfactory, and hat from the point of view of sick people a hospital on the foothills with a better outlook would be more desirable. Opinion of Department Cr. J. W. Neate stated that the Department of Health had said that there was nothing wrong with the present site. Plans for the new buildings had gone forward and the department had stated that it would not agree, to the scrapping of the present hospital. Personally he, did not approve of the site, although he did not "think that a hospital on top of a hill would be satisfactory, continued Cr. Neate. In is opinion the area owned by the hospital board at Tararu would make a most suitable situation for a modern hospital. The site was highly desirable in every way with plenty of fresh, air from the sea bieezes, good drainage and a pleasant outlook. The board he .said however, was ham-

strung by the decision of the Department of Health 'who would not agree Good For 10 Years The ’ chairman, Mr C. W. Parfitt, ■explained that the Department of Health considered that the present hospital, with additions, suitable for a further 10' years, and they would not agree to scrap this. The erection of a new hospital, he pointed put, would be very cos’tly, but if the present Thames hospital district was ento a change of site. , larged it would be a different matter. It had been suggested he continued, •that Te Aroha might join in. theThames hospital district and if Te Aroha was interested and could also interest the Piako County to join in the Thames hospital district, it would - be entirely a different story. How- ' .ever, as the area was at present, any change of site was impossible. The .area, in his opinion, really too foi efficiency. He agreed however that a new hospital was desirable. Present Conditions Cr. J. F. Mayn thought that in view of the present conditions the hospital should be left where it was for the time being. In answer to Cr. Cheaie the chairman said he thought it was too late to re-open the question of site. Cr. Cheaie asked whether if the area was made bigger could the question .be re-opened. Cr. Mayn said that in his opinion, costs were too high to build a new .hospital. He thought that the Wai-