SECONDARY HOSPITAL SITE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16288, 22 January 1915, Page 7

SECONDARY HOSPITAL SITE

HOSPITAL BOARD AND SATURDAY! ASSOCIATION. A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. Tho Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, at its meeting last might, considered a letter from the Hospital Saturday Association of Otago with reference to the board's decision to erect the observation ward at Wakari. The' letter stated that when the association offered, in 1912, to set apart half the collection to erect this ward it was on the understanding'that such ward would be erected at Pine Hill. The deputation that waited on the association on November 4, 1912, assured it that that was the site recommended by the medical experts. The money already handed over and yet to come was allocated on the understanding- that tho board had definitely decided to erect the buildings at Pine "Hill. Therefore, in the'present circumstances, the association was withholding its proportion of this year's collection pending further information regarding the change of site. The Chairman of the board (Mr J. H. Walker) said he was glad this letter had como :n, as it gave him an opportunity of saying that the" Dunedin Hospital did not receive the whole of the money given to the association. The public had been under the impression that the whole amount was to go to the Hospital. When the executive of tho association approached the board it willingly agreed to forgo half of the proceeds and give them to the Belgian Fund. So far as he was concerned, he would be willing to give tho whole <$f the donation to the Belgian Fund. He certainly thought tho association had no right to withhold the money. If the other societies concerned had done the same as the Hospital Board, possibly the public would have been better satisfied. The association was talcing up a position that wa3 absolutely unfair. The first part of the letter was correct. The idea did obtain at one time that the Pine Hill site would be selected, but since then circumstances had arisen that made it impossible to carry out that plan. He could nardly understand this letter. So far they had received no money, but he supposed they would wait until the money came in. The result would be_ that this* would do harm to the association, which had done really excellent and most successful work. Mr Talbovs proposed—"That the board should not simply reoeive the letter." He suggested that a deputation, consisting of the chairman of the board and the chairman of the Hospital Committee, should meet the Hospital Saturday Association to discuss the matter. A good talk would possibly overcome any difficulties. So far as the public was concerned, the question was never raised as to where the hospital was to be. The Chairman said he did not think the board ought to go cap in hand to the association.

Mr Talboys: I do not say wo should go cap in hand by any "moans. The Chairman said that if the association had asked for particulars the board would gladly have given them. It had passed a resolution that was absolutely a slight on the board. He took up the position that if it liked to withhold the money let it withhold it. Mr Talboys: I don't think it has tho power, Mr Chairman. Tho Chairman: I don't think it has. Mr F. G. Cumming said he had been present at the meeting of the association that passed the resolution, jand he was satisfied that the wording of it was most unfortunate. There was no intention whatever of casting any slight on the board, but rather respectfully asking that some information might bo given it as to why th-3 original intention had not been carried out,. It knew it _ could not hold the money, and had no intention of holding it. He did not think thero was any suggestion of belittling tho board. Dr Marshall Macdonald said he would like to s'upport Mr Talboys. He thought it was quite obvious that tho resolution had been engineered by some members of the association. There must bo a large number of its members who would disapprove of the motion. If the other societies benefiting were not asked to give half their quota to tho Belgian Fund, why were thev not asked? Why was the Hospital Board tho only one asked to give up its share? Surely the fair and obvious thing would have been to set aside a certain amount for the Bslgian Fund and divide the remainder proportionately. The question of the Pine Hill site was only a quibblo used by certain persons—an unfair and ungenerous quibble used to bring about an unpleasant state of affairs between the association and the board.

The Chairman said ho thought it -would bo better to explain the matter by letter, though he was quite willmg- to go to the association if tho board wished it. Mr Sourr supported this suergrstion. and moved an amendment accordingly, which Mr Driver seconded. Mr Sourr's amendment was carried.

Mr T\ G. Omnminpr expressed surprise tlwt the association's motion, as it appeared in the papers, had not been publicly contradicted.