CLUTHA HOSPITAL PROPOSAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 40

CLUTHA HOSPITAL PROPOSAL

RECENT OFFICIAL VISIT. COUNTY COUNCIL INDIGNANT. At the meeting of the Clutha County Council on Friday the recent visit of Dr Frengley and Dr Wylie to the district was mentioned, and dissatisfaction expressed at the methods adopted by the Government, to obtain information regarding the hospital requirements of the district. The Secretary of the Otago Hospital Board wrote on February 18 that the In-spector-general had been invited to visit the Utago Hospital Board's district and advise on the requirements of th e southern portion of the district within Bruce and Clutha. He had arranged to send' Dr Frengiey and Dr Wylie, on behalf of the department. These two gentlemen would accompany the board on a visit to South Otago on February 24, and they "would be to meet the Mayor of Balclutha. the chairman of the Clutha County Council, and the medical practitioners of the district. If time permitted, and it was considered necessary, the party would proceed to Owaka. and would be pleased to meet the doctor and members of the riding of the council for that district. Or North said it was strange that if the Otago Board wished to meet the riding members and obtain evidence of the requirements of the district an outsider' should have been called in at Owaka. This person was not a representative of any body. Cr Maginness said the council should strongly protest against the way the inquiry was "made by these two officials. In company with -some members of the Otago Hospital Board they spent eight hours in the whole" trip. It was a slipshod method of getting information on anv subject. The council should take a stand and protest. These two officials would report to Wellington, and it would, seem as if their opinion of the requirements of the district was to be taken in preference to the expressed wish of the people themselres. How could two men come down from Wellington and rush from Dunedin to Owaka and back and learn the needs of the district in one day? He thought it was a democratic cotmtry, but they should not stand the opinion of two men against the people's wish. . Cr North declared that the officials did not get the wishes of the people. Cr «T. Edwards said they had properly appointed men as representatives of the people. He thought they should have been consulted in the matter. A Councillor: Our representative on the Otago Hospital Board represents Dunedin more than Clutha. Cr Maginness moved that the council strongly protest against the way the inquiry on behalf of the Inspector-general was carried out. Cr North seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.