THE HOSPITAL QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL QUESTION.

We may take it for granted that all the authorities in the matter, including the Health Office, have abandoned the idea of setting up an infectious diseases' hospital in our public park. The acknowledgment of the inadvisability of this seems universal, spontaneous and genuine which make? it still more astonishing that the Premier should have been able to brow-beat our municipal government two years ago. Our contention that it is not advisable nor usual for infectious diseases to be treated in buildings adjacent to a general hospital is now endorsed by the official experts; two years ago the Premier insisted that it was necessary to have such contiguity and was eloquent upon the inhumanity of all who differed from him. But we may let that pass, only commenting that it was a very fair example of the way in which we are governed. The present question is the taking of such prompt and sufficient steps to provide a suitably situated and suitably equipped hos-

pifcal for all infectious diseases occurring in the Auckland district that our Domain may be returned to its proper use and any cases arising be attended to ■without undue danger or annoyance to the public. The difficulty with our .local bodies is that they discuss every petty detail at such; length that they have ho time left in which to decide upon main questions. Their : duty in this matter is plain and straightforward and not to be avoided or delayed because other buildings happen to be temporarily available. Wo trust that the conference to be held on Monday will be a practical and energetic meeting and will clear the way for the solution of a question which: has only grown into a serious problem because of the manner in which it has been allowed to drag along.