HOSPITAL AT TE KUITI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19496, 27 November 1926, Page 14

HOSPITAL AT TE KUITI.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING.

PROGRESS OF THE DISTRICT.

ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY

[by telegraph.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. 3 TE KUITI. Friday.

The Te Kuiti Hospital was opened yesterday afternoon by the Hon, J. A. Young, Minister of Health, in the presence of 500 people. Mr. Campbell Johnson, chairman of the Waikato Hospital Board, said that when the movement for the establish ment of a hospital was first started '.t was not dreamed that such a fine building would result The intention was to run the hospital with the assistance of the local medical men, but no pains had been spared to make the institution as modern in its equipment as the base hospital. He hoped the local residents would take a practical interest in it and so help to relieve the burden upon other districts of the board's area.

Mr J. C. Rolleston, M.P., m welcoming the Minister, referred to the manifold hardships which the people of the back blocks suffered through lack of proper medical facilities. A great deal 'could be done to relieve those suffering by establishing cottage hospitals in the remote areas. He expressed the hope that increased subsidies would be given to country medica.l associations. If they could not support a doctor they could maintain a district nurse, whose ministrations in the backblocks could not be over-valued. i Mr. .J W. Warren, architect to the board, then presented the Minister with a handsomo inkstand, remarking that he was departing from the traditional gift of a key. The Minister said he was particularly pleased to be present, because he was personally acquainted with the district and growth of the town, which he had known as a Maori settlement 32 years ago. He paid a tribute to the persistence of Mr. James Boddie, as a member of the Waikato Hospital Board, ui urging that medical facilities should be provided. for the district. Referring to the need for economy in public expenditure, Mr. Young remarked that while" the local people had provided a large sum for this hospital, it was only a small portion compared with the total cost of the institution, £20,000. He appealed to the people of the district not to try to have major operations performed in the hospital, but to go to the -base hospital at Hamilton. Major operations should bo performed in the branch hospital only with' the sanction of the Hamilton superintendent. In order to provide medical facilities for the country districts it was neces sary to have a number of small hospitals scattered about, and the people had the right to expert medical and hospital services. While it was necessary to economise, the Government did not believe in economy at the' expense cf efficiency. In conclusion the Minister congratulated the people of the district in having so fine a building.