HOSPITAL TO BE BUILT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19960, 31 May 1928, Page 12

HOSPITAL TO BE BUILT.

MATERNITY CASES AT PAEROA H " .DUTY OF THAMES BOARD. STATEMENT BY MINISTER, [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] HAMILTON, Wednesday. "I request your board in the terms of your trust to proceed with the erection of a maternity hospital at Paeroa, and desire that it be built of brick," not of wood. If the board fails to recognise what is its duty to the community, and refuses to act, I shall have no option but to order the erection of the building, have it conducted by my department, and charge you with the cost." In these words the Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, addressing a deputation from the Thames Hospital Board at Hamilton, this afternoon, disposed of a question which has for years been agitating the Thames hospital district. Mr. W. E. Hale, chairman of the board, explained that it had been divided on the question of building a maternity hospital with emergency casualty beds at Paeroa. More recently the board had been concerned by the statement of the Director-General of Health that he purposed having the institution built and charging the board with the cost. A majority of the board, said Mr. Hale, deemed the time inopportune to embark on an undertaking which would further embarrass already overloaded ratepayers, although it was recognised that ultimately Paeroa must have such an institution. Mr. P. S. Brennan, who favoured the project, said a hospital at Paeroa would serve a population of about 3000, and Paeroa had already donated some thousands of pounds toward the funds held in trust,' while it contributed 20 per cent, of the board's annual revenue. Mr. J. A. Danby said the board had had an unfortunate experience in its construction of a maternity annexe at Thames, for it had been relatively poorly patronised. The board estimated the proposed Paeroa hospital would result in an annual loss of £I3OO. Mr. C. W. Kennedy supported the building project, which was strongly opposed by Air. E. Walton, who said the Hauraki Plains district, which provided 48 per cent, of the board's revenue, was distinctly against the building of a hospital at Paeroa. If the issue was forced it would create resentment. Replying to the deputation, Mr. Young said the board held in trust the property and money required for a brick building, and there was a declaratory judgement of the Supreme Court in 1923 ordering its erection. A good maternity service was essential in rural districts. "Public maternity hospitals are not expected to pay," said Mr. Young. "To long for money profit from them would be against the principles of our hospital system. We aim to give service, not to make money, and 1 am surprised that a hospital board should advance that issue .as an argument. If a hospital board was stifling maternity work it was not carrying out its social duty to the community in a proper fashion." Mr. Young then made his request to the board to proceed with the erection of the hospital, but expressed sympathy with the local viewpoints enunciated. He trusted they would now all co-operate in a friendly spirit in building the hospital, for he much preferred that the board itself should carry out the work.