MOTUEKA COTTAGE HOSPITAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 June 1926, Page 4

MOTUEKA COTTAGE HOSPITAL

PROPOSED ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS CONSIDERATION DEFERRED At the meeting of the Nelson Hospital Board yesterday afternoon tenders were received for the proposed alterations and additions to the Motueka Cottage Hospital. Mr Spiers, before the tenders were opened, asked whether it would not be advisable to discontinue the hospital, and subsidise-someone to run a hospital as was done at Murchison. The Board was losing approximately €IOOO a year on it. If this went on it would be Letter to give the hospital away. Mr Berryman agreed, but pointed out that the Board was eommittoed by the Health Department to carry out the work. After it was done perhaps the Board could then think of letting a private individual run it. Mrs Moffatt pointed out that the Motueka people had raised a certain amount of money for the hospital, and the Department "would see that it was mainained. The usefulness of the hospital was growing, and the proposed alterations and additions were to keep it up to the requirements demanded. Private hospitals in Motueka had been a failure, whereas the present one was a success.

Air Page did not think anyone for a moment would say that a maternity hospital was not needed in Motuekn, but when it came to making it a general hospital it was a different matter altogether. The Department had approved of the building, and no sooner was this done than a great deal more was asked to he done. It was not fair to saddle the ratepayers with a general hospital at Motuekn. Mr Hewetson was satisfied that there was occasion for alterations to the Cottage Pfospital, serious accident eases had occurred at Motueka, and the patients could not be removed to the Nelson hospital. He stressed the need of making provision for such cases ns he had mentioned. It was not making a general hospital of it. Mr Spiers explained that he did not suggest that the hospital be closed, as he recognised that a maternity hospital was necessary. But he was of opinion that it could be carried on lit the same way as at Murchison. He moved that the tenders be held over for a month with a view of getting someone to take it over on a subsidy basis Mr Berryman seconded, as lie thoughtno harm could he done by delaying consideration for a month. It was also decided on the motion of Mr Berryman to add to the resolution that the secretary prepare a statement | showing the loss on the hospital. Mr Page supported the resolution. The hospital would need a bigger stall' and the expense would go on increasing. Mr Tunnicliff would support Iho motion as he considered tlie expert.-,e too great. He wanted more information on the matter l.efoie deciding. The motion was put ami carried, Messrs Page, Berryman, Tunnielitf, Spiers and Watson voting aye.

It was decided that the tenders bn opened, four of which were received, it was decided to inform the tenders that consideration had be deferred for a month.