OTAKI HOSPITAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 175, 25 June 1926, Page 8

OTAKI HOSPITAL

OBJECTION TO CLOSING. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. Per Press Association. YVELLINGTON, June 25. A strong deputation from Otaki waited on Hon. J. A. Y’oung, Minister of Health, to protest against the closing of. the Otaki Hospital. The case was stated by 17 speakers, and Mr Field, M.P., in introducing them, said that tho people of the district were in deadly earnest and reprwented tlie area from Paekakariki to Shannon. ~.The hospital had been in existence about 30 years, and its troubles began when it came under the control of the Palmerston North Board. Instead of being reduced, Hie hospital should be extended, and tne proposal to close it was “a most sinful thing.” _ . . Mr C. F. Atmore, in describing the feeling in the district, used the word “insurrection” and said _ the _ people would fight tooth and nail against the closing of the institution or the curtailing of its usefulness. Mr G. A. Monk, a member of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, said it had been promised that before any curtailment was made at Otaki provision would be made ior an ambulance.. This had not been done and he described it as a deliberate breach of agreement. ' . , The Minister said the speakers had not exhibited the hysteria which the newspaper reports led him to suppose existed in tho district. He defended the department against allegations of callousness and denied that instructions had been given for the refusal of all sorts of cases. By breaking away from YVellington and coming under the control-of Palmerston North district the people had leaped out of the frying pan into the fire. Ho would deal with the matter sympathetically, but hoped it would be dealt with in the district. He hoped that while his decision would not give all they wanted, it would make for a nrore satisfactory position.