CHEST HOSPITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 18

CHEST HOSPITAL

BOMBAY SITE FAVOURED BOARD'S MAJORITY VIEW DEPARTMENT NOT SUPPORTED OTHER LOCALITIES SUGGESTED Expressing a majority opinion contrary to the view of tlio Health Department, which favoured sites at Mount Wellington and Penrose, tlio Auckland Hospital Board yesterday recommended to the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Frascr, the selection of an area at Bombay as the location of tlio proposed Auckland chest hospital and .sanatorium. Only three members, Dr. K. B. Gunson, Mr. E. H. Potter and Mr. W. G. Mulholland, supported the departmental suggestions. "Auckland ratepayers have to find 50 per cent of the expenditure in erecting tlio chest hospital and, as their representatives, lvo have the right to our opinion in the matter," stated Mr. G. T. Parvin. The Mount Wellington site which had been suggested bj T the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, was in close proximity to the citj', and building extensions over a period of years might embrace the land as a residential area. Medical Opinion Mr. Parvin moved that the board should suggest to the Minister tlio acquisition of one of the several suitable sites at Bombay. This was seconded by Mrs. A. G. Anderton. Tracing the long history of the negotiations for a site, Mr. E. H. Potter considered that further delay should be averted by adopting the departmental recommendation. The area at Mount Wellington was in an excellent position and would lend itself to the erection of the necessary buildings.

"I feel that the consensus of medical opinion is to have the hospital near tho city," stated Dr. Gunson. Mrs. Anderton objected to the hospital being on land which might prove to be an industrial area, and Mrs. M. M. Dreaver considered that tho ideal site for a sanatorium should bo miles from a city, where chronic cases could receive the benefit of air and sunshine. Type of Hospital

"Tho Mount Wellington site is ideal," said Mr. Mulholland. "We do not want to bo brow-beaten into a decision, but it would bo reasonable to fall in line with the department's suggestions." The chairman, tho I?ev. W. C. Wood, said the board had decided that it required an institution similar to the Cashmere Sanatorium, Christchureh, which was conjunctively a chest hospital and a sanatorium. A specialist would probably be appointed to tako charge of the work. With 3Jr. Parvin. he had come to a gentleman's agreement with Dr. Watt that the board would fall in line with the department's suggestions, but ho was compelled in the present circumstances to vote in favour of the Bombay locality, which ho preferred. Duty of Board

Any suggestion to select a sito for tho convenience of tho medical profession was deplored by Mr. W. Wallace. It was the duty of the board and not of the department to make a choice, and ho would emphatically oppose the acquisition of land at either Mount Wellington cr Penrose.

amendment moved by Mr. Potter that the board should accept the departmental recommendation and tako steps to acquire land at Mount Wellington was defeated, and Mr. Parvin's motion was carried.