MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 163, 11 June 1926, Page 2

MATERNITY HOSPITAL

BOARD APPROACHES MINISTER.

QUESTION OF A SUBSIDY. The Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) and the Director-General of Health (Dr Valintine) were informed by the Palmerston North' Hospital Board at a conference held locally yesterday of the steps taken to establish a maternity hospital in this centre. Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., presided. The board sought a subsidy of 24s in the £1 on the cost of construction of the proposed institution, but the Minister explained that, as the Act how stood, only 20s in the £1 could be granted, and after a deal of argument between Mr Young and Mr Nash it was decided to defer the matter until the latter could go into the position with the department at Wellington. Sir James "Wilson, the board’s chairman, briefly outlined the position and, having to leave the meeting, left Mr Nash to preside. EARLY PROMISES. The early history of the local St. Helen’s Home movement was narrated by Mr Nash, who also informed the Minister and Dr Valintine of the decision of a public meeting to surrender the sum in hand to the board, and of the proposals of that body in the matter of the scale of charges for those using the maternity hospital. The fund raised locally, said Mr Nash, amounted to some" £3200, and would be about £3300 by the time it was handed over to the board. The architect’s estimate of the cost of the building was £8500,' but the total cost would probably be £IO,OOO. The board asked for 24s in the £1 subsidy on the total cost. The board, he pointed out, was saving the department the whole expense of establishing a St. Helen’s Home here. As a further argument Mr Nash alluded to earlier promises of the department to pay the subsidy now sought, and contended that as the board was taking over the responsibility of the work and giving liberal concessions to those who would use the hospital, what was now asked was very reasonable. Further, it was intended to provide a number of qualified nurses to give maternity treatment to people in the country. In effect, said the board’s secretary, what was sought would mean that on an outlay of- £BBOO the Government would have to find £4BOO and the board £4OOO. The Minister quoted an earlier letter from Sir Maui Pomare, stating that, if the fund handed over £SOOO, the Government would erect the hospital and hand it over to the board, the subsidy, however, not to exceed £SOOO. „ Mr Nash: “Exactly.” He pointed out how moderate were the present demands of the board. The Minister said that the Government would find half, but could not now pay any higher subsidy than 20s in the £1 under the Act, which had been amended since the 24s rate obtained. A special vote of Parliament or special legislation would be needed to meet the request of the board. He had no record of a promise to pay 24s in the £1 on the whole cost. Mr Nash debated this point, stating that there was documentary evidence to the contrary in Wellington. The board, said Mr Young, had a very strong claim for a 24s subsidy in the £1 on the amount collected. He would do his best in that regard.. Mr Nash: What about the 24s on the whole cost? “That is another matter,” replied the Minister, who proceeded to congratulate Mr Nash on his assuidity in the interests of his electorate. PLEDGE AND PROMISE. “That’s all right; but there is a pledge and a promise to pay 24s in the £1 on the total cost,” said Mr Nash, who stated that machinery was available to enable the execution of that promise. Mr Nash and the Minister again argued on the point of what had been promised, the former stating that the board was “letting the department out of a good deal.” “You are not letting us out of anything so far as I can see,” observed the Minister. It was pointed out that the difference between 24s in the £1 on the amount collected and on the total cost of the building was only £<o, but the Minister remained adamant, and the matter was postponed until such time as Mr Nash could adduce in Wellington certain earlier letters from a previous Minister, which lie said contained promises of what the board now sought.