WAIKATO SANATORIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17660, 22 December 1920, Page 6

WAIKATO SANATORIUM.

OPPOSITION TO CLOSING.

HOSPITAL BOARD'S VIEW.

THE MANUREWA SCHEME.

The closing of the Waikato oanatorium was discussed at last evening's meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The matter came before the board in the form of a communication from the Piako County Council protesting against the closing of the institution.

Mr. M. J. Coyle asked if the sanatorium had actually been closed.

The chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, replied that it had not, and added that there were still patients undergoing treatment at Cambridge. Mr. Wallace said that if the board had the necessary funds it could establish a sanatorium at Manurewa. He did not know what were the intentions of the Public Health Department. but he understood that the Uovernment's desire to close the place was based upon the ground that the upkeep was too expensive. Mr. Coyle moved that the board enter its protest against the Cambridge institution being closed. Mr. M. J. Savage, M.P., in seconding the motion, said that he believed that the public health should not be sacrificed on the score of expense. Mr. P. M. Mackay expressed the opinion that Cambridge was not the most suitable place for an institution of the kind. He said the board had had patients who had not made any progress there, but when they came back to Auckland they recovered rapidly, and in a few months were able to work for themselves. If Cambridge was suitable for the treatment of consumptives, he did not think the department would be willir™ to close the sanatorium. He understoi- e "® lat the whole thing had been a white elephant from the beginning, and the Government had endeavoured to get the combined local bodies to take it over.

Mr. G. Knight urged that this question should not be viewed from the standpoint of expense. Until it could make other convenient provision, the Government should keep the sanatorium open Mr. S. J. Harbutt said it was wrong to place an institution or the kind at Cambridge. He spoke from the point of view of ( accessability so far as the patients' friends were concerned. However, until the board could make the necessary arrangements in connection with its Manurewa property the sanatorium should be kept open. The chairman suggested that it should be made clear that the board was protesting against the closing of the sanatorium until other provisions had been made for the patients in the Auckland district. He sa.d if it was not for the present financial position, it should be the duty of the board to establish a home in the vicinity of the city for its own people. The motion was adopted.