TE KUITI HOSPITAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1221, 7 June 1919, Page 5

TE KUITI HOSPITAL.

SITE Q UEvS HON. DISAPPOINTING NEWS ACTION t() BL TAKEN. The letter published in Thursday'# Chronicle frurn tbe Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. Minister for Agriculture, stating that he could not agrea to tbe land no# used by his Depart mant being exchanged and usert a» a hospital site, was discussed at the Waitomo County Council meeting. The Chairman (Mr J. Watt): I'm very disappointed at tbis reply. a» the Minister tald me tbe Department would have to pot up a very good argument to alter bis view. FI don't think its any use writing, but we can't let the ro»tt«r rest at this. Tbere is a cottage on tbe •ite and a horse grazas in tbe paddock. The land is valued at £SOO per acre, and it is too valuable to run horses on. Cr Tolme: It is pretty expensive grazing. The Chairman: Yea. It is m the borough, too. The late council purchased a hospital site »bout two years ago. and tbe purchase was "tagged" by the Auditor-General. The present council, therefore, found it necessary to dispose of the site. Cr P. D. Hargreav«« said that, as it had been offered to the Government as a hospittl site, tha Government should have tbe option of refusing it before it was placed upon the market. It was pointed out that tbe Department bad had the offer for two yeard, and had done nothing. Several sites had been offered, but none had been chosen. After a long discussion, Cr Were moved and Cr Willis seconded:— "That in view of tbe AuditorGeneral's exception to the purchase of the hospital site, this council authorise the chuirman and clerk to arrange to dispose of Section &, Block 16. Omhirt Survey District, and that any profit arising therefrom be held by the council as a nucleus towards the cost of • hospital at Te Kuiti." This was carried.

A CONFERENCE. A CONCRETE BUILDING. FOR MATERNITY AND ACCIDENTS. A conference in regard to the proposed T# Kuiti Haspitat was betd «1t the Borough Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, the Mayor, Mr G. P. Fin lay, presiding. There Were also present—Messrs R. Boddy and G. Brown, chairman and cterk of the Awakino County Council; J. Wall, chairman of the Waitomo County Council; W. V. Lorigan, J. .F. Walsh. Te Kuiti Borough Council; Mr F. Edward Lamb, town clerk; a n d Mr J»rn«s BofJdie, district representative on the Waikato Hosp't* tat and Charitahle Aid Board. Mr James Boddie explained the necessity for his being armed with full particulars as to what was required. He would need to have definite information regarding the •ite. Were all agreed as to what they really wanted the Hospital Board to do? Did they want a small cottage hospital for maternity cases and a ward for accidents, or did they want more than that? Ha was exceedingly sarry to read in the Chronicle that the Agricultural Department had declined to hand over the site desired

A DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. The Mayor: It's a (treat pity. It'a ao stupid to keep ten acres merely for grazing. Mr Wall: We haven't done with the matter yet. The Minister told us that the Department would bave to pot op good reasons for it. Mr Boddie: Perhaps) we could, at least, bave five acres I don't know where we could get a batter site. Mr Walsh: I'v* only seen a horse in the place for the last tan years, it's a dog in the manger policy. Mr Wall: It'a the local official* Who arc protesting. Mr Walsh: It is the officials who are running the country A Member: In the interests of the Coal if. i in Government. The Mayor explained that all they wished were maternity and Occident wards.

Mr Wall: We don't want to UiOrp the functions of the Waikato Board. Mr Bodrlie: It would be deplorable to be deprived of the splendid facilities of the Waikato Hospital. Members: Heitr, bnar.

Mr Boddie stated that to establish • hospital, medical assistance was essential. Te Kuiti w>»3 ntl right in that regard. Mr Walsh: Would »e not need four rooms? Mr Boddie: There are four maternity homes in Te Kuiti now, and none are overcrowded. Would the maternity ward be greatly used? Tbe district is growinif. arid the roads are becoming better. I've always been inclined to favour getting tbe nucleus of a district hospial, but you must not aim too high. A MATERNITY SCANDAL. Mr Walsh: One man had to pay £25 at • maternity home when bis wife was confined, and be only gita J2» to 13s a day. I know that as » fact. On Another occasion he had to pay -220 Surely, the sum would be much lest in a maternity ward. Mr Bodlie agreH ''hat the amount in a maternity wurrl would be trifling to that referred '<> *y Mr Waleh. In the c«se of » person unable to pay at St. Helen'* Maternity Home, they were dealt-with in a reasonable way.

Mr Wall thought there should be at leaat six rooms for patients in a maternity ward. Mr Boddte: If we are to g«t .£6OOO. I suggest ten rooms and four for accidents. Mr Walsh moved that a cottage hospital of eight rooms for patients be erects. Tbat would be six for maternity and two for accident*. A GOOD NAME. Mr Watt: Tbis place would have the stamp of the Hospital Board oo it. and it would have a first-class name. It was agreed to suggest • tenroom structure for patients, at a cost not exceeding £SOOO. Mr Boddie ondertcok to write immediately to tbe Board and ask for tbe architect's estimate of tbe cost Wits tbat they could out the proposal to the Board. He favoured building in concrete. Tbe members agreed. 'Mr Boddie: I will do my best to carry it tbroogb. The Mayor (to Mr Boddie*: We are indebted to you. The sitp question was left in the hands of Mr Wall.