HOSPITAL AMALGAMATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 12

HOSPITAL AMALGAMATION.

NORTH AUCKLAND PROPOSAL. OPPOSITION AT TE KOPURU. [BY TELEfiRAnt. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DARGAVILLE, Friday. Considerable interest lias been aroused in the district over the proposed amalgamation of the North Auckland hospital boards, to consider which a conference, called bv the Kaipara Hospital Board, is to be held at Whangarei at an early date. The first public meeting was held at Te Kopuru last evening. Mr. P. worth, representative of the Te Kopuru riding on the Hobson County Council, presided. 'lhere was an attendance of over 100. The chairman said the ratepayers in tho district were becoming alarmed, as tho amalgamation would mean tho ultimate closing of the Te Kopuru institution.

Mr. McCarroll, chairman of the Kaipara Hospital Board, denied that it was tho intention of the board to close the To Kopuru institution. The conference, he said, was being called merely to secure the opinion of oilier boards in tho North on the question of amalgamation. Mr. .1- G. Barclay, a member of the board, defended its action, and said there was no intention by any member of the board to close tho 1o Kopuru Hospital. As long as tho ratepayers and others used it, be said, tho hospital would not bo clpsed. However, lie contended that from an economic point of view, and through the more up-to-date treatment at the base hospital at Whangarei, as suggested by Dr. Campbell Begg, an amalgamation of northern boards was bcund to come.

After considerable discussion, most of which was against amalgamation of any kind, a resolution was passed protesting against the amalgamation of the Kaipara Hospital Board with any other boards in North Auckland. The meeting pledged itself to take steps to prevent the board from bringing about, the amalgamation without first consulting the wishes of the people concerned, the meeting being of the opinion that the amalgamation would lend toward a greater administrative costto the ratepayers and less efficiency in its own institution. The meeting requested the delegates of the Kaipara Hospital Board to oppose the suggested amalgamation at tho forthcoming conference.