HOSPITAL BOARDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 175, 25 June 1926, Page 10

HOSPITAL BOARDS

DISPUTE IN SOUTHERN HAWKE’S BAY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 24. A deputation from the Waipawa Hospital Board waited on the Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, this morning in regard to the dispute between the Waipawa and Dannovirke Hospital Boards. Air Rathbone, chairman of the board, contended that patients in the disputed area could be better served by the Waipukurau Hospital, as it was ten miles shorter to Waipukurau than to Dannevirkc. He objected to the remarks by the deputation from Dannovirke that the Waipawa board was breaking a “gentleman’s _ agreement” and trying to evade their legal responsibilities. The Alinister said that he thought they had referred to the evasion of a moral obligation. Replying to the deputation the Alinister suggested that there was a prospect pf the reconstitution of one hospital area. The deputation had made it perfectly clear that even if there was power to do so, they would refuse to hand over the revenues they derived. There was still some hope of an arrangement between the boards, he said, and he suggested a meeting between the boards, in the spirit of sweet reasonableness, with a view to solving the problem. If they could come to an arrangement between themselves, as Alinister, he would ask the Government, for legislation to legalise the agreement.