THE NEW HOSPITAL

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1914, Page 4

THE NEW HOSPITAL

There are undoubtedly some good reasons why the new hospital should be locatecL elsewhere than at Ani&rsfoote, the most prominent being' the desirableness of closer proximity to the towri and railway, ajtid the advantage^ that would be gained,in the way of producing'tlie dairy " and garden supplies if a, better class of land' were acquired. But there are much stronger reasons why the locality of the present hospital should be adhered to, and we do/not, doubt that the Board has acted wisely in coming to that decision. Even though the contractors "were prepared to carryout their work without altering their tender/tlie Board would still have had to pay dearly for the establishment of the institution on another site with any pretence to the adequatehess, the centrality, and the quality of soil that would reasonably justify removal^ and it is very questionable whether the best of bargains 'in these respects would have been worth the price. However much, too, might, have been gained, something substantial wtfuld certainly have been lost. The situation at Amersfdbte, with its nigh altitude, its clear and healthy, atmosphere, and. its natural drainage could not have been improved upon, and this is an asset in the science of caring for suffering humanity that should not be lightly sacrificed, ; The older residents will recall the fact that the location of the hospital was designedly changed from the river bank in Custom-house street to the higher country. The present position may have certain disadvantages when considered in relation to the radius of population; but this is a drawback that will be remedied in the course of time, as the residential area of the town extends in thai/ direction and as closer settlement proceeds in the Wairau Valley; and* m this process, moreover, Amersfoote 1S ?°)T kel? to be,, deprived of the secludedness that is one.-of its recommendations. It may be supposed that the patients would be none the better circumstanced by a transference to surroundings where the, noises or the motor traffic, the river service . and the railway might be exhilarating enough for healthy people, but" do pot make_ tor a soothing concord of sweet sounds in the case of the bed»-ridden. bo. far as the; financial aspect of the question is concerned, the proposal to alter the site was the more formidable as the scheme of housirfe the old men m the present hospital is closely associated with the enterprise of providing the district with an up-to-date It is, in fact, one of the main arguments in favor of the undertaking, and a departure trom the scheme would have involved a good deal of readjustment and extra expense. From a business standpoint, the profit that would1 be derived trom the more successful proSf 11 ? fi? aayi*y and ,« ajrd«n applies couldnot be expected to compensate the Board for it« acquisition of more fertile land. In any case, it is more I ; than probable that if full justice were done TO the; extensive property at Amersfoote + m the way of cultivation ■JSnr a" *^ milk and butter required by the institution could be^roducea undeV Profitable conditionsv We have Z a^WB^ 6 tail for and against the proposition to establish the hospital in another locality; But ?ff n sTe^ **£* *? of effacing from the public mind any im^ jression that an initial andirremediable erroris to be committed in ft 9 STnm tUre °f '**&:*■ ii«'rT °r *l- -The fact that the Board came to its decision unanimously should help to remove any such anxiety. It may be noted with tl7 bS' I tooN* hat «««e membeiTof the Board who opposed the proiect m.any shape or f ornvbefore the S>m™On are not only co-operating^. ?i? J the Responsibility of c^rry+W a^ antW but gone fur-