INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1612, 21 January 1903, Page 73 (Supplement)

INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES’ DELEGATES. A SITE SELECTED. Tho adjourned meeting of delegates from local bodies to consider the questions of ways, means and advisableness of instituting «, specikl hospital for the treatment of infectious diseases Avas held on the 13th inst. Mr J. G. W Aitken (Mayor of Wellington) presided, and there A\ T ere also present Messrs Keene (Melrose), Mothes (Petone), Dasent (Karori), R. Bould (Hntt County), J. Cudby (Hutt borough), R. C. Kirk (Hospital Trustees), and Dr Mason (Chief Health Officer). Mr Aitken explained that the chief business to bo considered A\ r as that of a site for the hospital. So far as he as a layman Avas concerned, no thought there Avas abundance of room in the vicinity of the hospital upon AAdnch to set up the proposed institution, though he kneAV he Avas expressing vieAVS m contradiction to those of men who ought to knoA\r better.* Dr Mason remarked that tho sit© would be too near. Patients from the general Avard Avcmld be able to shake hands A\ T ith another over the fence. It AA'Ould be Avell enough if certain sets of rules AA’ere carried out, but they would not be. Such an institution as an infectious diseases hospital should be kept absolutely apart if it Avas to be of full use to the community. Mr Aitken: But you don’t call 100 feet close up, do you? Dr Mason: I do.

Mr Dasent agreed with the Mayor. He thought they could get a site at the‘hospital grounds quite Tavo hundred feet aAvay. ,

- Dr Mason admitted that tne matter AA r as one for the conference to decide, hut he had to make clear his objection io putting the building anyAvhere near the present hospital. There AA'as no country in the AA'orld Avhere they AA’ere putting up infectious hospitals in such close contiguity to ordinary hospitals as the Mayor of Wellington Avas now advocating. The matter Avas one that a layman might \~ery Avell leave to be settled by an expert. Dr Mason was AA’illing to take the opinion of the medical officer of the hospital or of some other recognised authority. Mr Aitken Avas quite prepared to find tho doctors agreeing, Avhereupon Dr Mason replied that tnere could not bo better testimony to the merits of his contention, for it Avas most exceptional to find no diversity amongst medical men.

A suggestion Avas made that a site might be secured on the Toaa’ii Belt for the institution, but it Avas mentioned that the Mayor of Wellington had already expressed himself as against the proposition. Mr Aitken explained that he did not object himself, but he did not AA 7 ant a repetition of the legal proceedings and consequent loss of time that resulted from some previous similar experiments.

Mr Kirk referred to a site near the Old Farm, in the vicinity of Polhill’s Gully rifle range. A long discussion took place regarding this, and the belief Avas expressed that the site was above the level of water and drainage. Further discussion ensued respecting the practicableness of securing a site at NeAvtoAvn, in tho vicinity of Mount VieAV Asylum. In the course of the discussion it was alleged that the site in question—noAV held bv the Government —Avas filched from- the city by a past Government. On these grounds it Avas feared by one trustee that thero might be extra trouble in getting a grant of the site from the Government, but the meeting as a Avhole did not take that vioAV. Eventually the conference drove out to tlie grounds and inspected them. Thero Avas found quite an embarrassment of suitable spots, but finally the trustees unanimously fixed on a portion of land abutting on Coromandel street, and stretching back to the Toavu Belt. A sloAvly-sloping spur from the main hills stretches into the centre of the site, making an ideal location for the main building. There is nothing to prevent a road being run into the site (from Coromandel street) at little expense, and in the mattd?- of drainage and of Avater supply there will be abso» lutely no trouble. The distance of the proposed site from that of the general hospital is about half-a-mile. A deputation A\*as set up to wait on Sir Joseph Ward (Minister for Publio Health), and ask through him that tho Government Avould grant t-en acres of the reserve for the purpose of the hospital. The interview is to take place as soon as possible after the return of Sir Joseph Ward from his visit to the South Island.

Provided a favourable reply be received from the Government a complete scheme for establishing the institution AA'ill be submitted to the local bodies through their delegates, and i o doubt this Avill be speedily followed by a final agreement on the subject.