ALEXANDRA MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 9

ALEXANDRA MATERNITY HOSPITAL

Sir, —A letter written by the secretary of the Alexandra Hospital Committee to the Vincent Hospital Board appeared in your columns a few weeks ago, complaining .of the delay in having a maternity annexe built at Alexandra. As far as I can gather, any retason for delay is that the Hospital Board is unable to purchase from the owners the site chosen, and has been compelled to take proceedings under the Public Works Act, which is a slow procedure, and I feel sure an undesirable one for any local body to adopt. As the land in question has been lying idle for many years it seems to me sheer perverseness on the part of the owners to refuse to sell, and I think the Alexandra Committee, instead of blaming the Hospital Board, would be more helpful if it could persuade the owners to consider the needs and progress of the district, and make the land available without delay.—l am, etc., Progress.

Alexandra, August 7. • [This letter was referred to the secretary of the Vincent Hospital Board, Mr E. A. Grant, who states that the board commenced negotiations last September with the owner of the land, comprising 131 acres, chosen by the board as a suitable site for a new general hospital, of which the maternity building would be the first stage. Failing to obtain the owner’s agreement to sell the whole area required, the board at its March meeting decided to take steps to acquire the land under the provisions of the Public Works Act. However, some progress has now' been madp with the owner regarding negotiations for the sale of the whole area, and the board is hopeful of reaching finality at a reasonably early date without the necessity of further slow and costly processes under tfce Public Works Act.—Ed. O.D.T.]