HOSPITAL BLOCK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23226, 21 December 1938, Page 18

HOSPITAL BLOCK

WAIKATO PEOGEESS CEREMONY AT HAMILTON TRIBUTES BY MINISTER [from our own corrf.rponpf.ntl HAMILTON, Tuesday The new administrative block at tho Waikato Hospital was officially opened by the Minister of Health, the Hon. r. Frnser, this afternoon. Tho block, which is an imposing two-storeyed ferro concrete structure, stands 011 a commanding site at the hospital entrance. There wis a fairly larse attendance, those present including the Mayor, Mr. H. D. Caro, Messrs. C. A. Barrell, W. J. Bjoadfoot, W. S. Goosman and J. M. Allen, M.P.'s, Dr. R. A. Shore, acting-Director-General of Health, Dr. T. H. A. Vnlintine, former DirectorGeneral of Health, and representatives of contributing local bodies. Two visitors were Mr. J. J. .Daley, of Pirongia, the first patient at the small five-roomed Waikato Hospital built in 1887, and Mrs. Kelly, of Northcote, formerly Nurse E. J. Whitehouse, who nursed Mr. Daley. The Minister Welcomed The chairman of the board, Mr. J. Findlay. presided, and extended a cordial welcome to the Minister and other visitors. Ho thanked Mr. Fraser for his cervices to the hospitals of the Dominion and to the Waikato Hospital in particular.' The.Mayor also welcomed the Minister. He paid a tribute to the work of the Waikato Hospital Board and to the medical and nursing staffs. The Minister said that for years he had heard of the great reputation of the Waikato Hospital. Sir Alexander Young, a former chairman of the board, and the late Sir Maui Pomare were two of the finest Ministers of Health New Zealand had ever known, and they had both done very great service. Sir Maui Pomare had left his mark on the mental hospitals of the Dominion. Growth of Institution Mr. Fraser described the amazing growth of the Waikato Hospital sincp its inception and congratulated all concerned on the latest addition to the hospital equipment. He said the new block provided the most modern technique in hospital administration. It was a good job honestly done. He declared the new block open. • • _ The Minister was presented with a silver rose bowl by the builder, Mr. C. S. Pratt, and with a fountain-pen and pencil by tho architect, Mr. J. H. Edgecumbe. . , ■ . The visitors were shown through tin? building and were afterward entertained at afternoon tea. • The new block contains reception rooms for the patients, administrative quarters for the medical superintendent. matron, and other members of the staff, dispensary, out-patients' department, and 10 bedrooms. It cost £29,600.