PALMERSTON MATERNITY COTTAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 5

PALMERSTON MATERNITY COTTAGE.

PROPOSAL UNANIMOUSLY FAVOURED. A meeting to consider the erection of a Maternity Cottage at Palmerston was hold in tne Waihemo County Council Chambers on Thursday morning, the Hon. E. H. Clark, M.L.0., presiding over an attendance of Otago Hospital Board delegates, representatives of the Waihemo and vVaikouaiti Borough and County Councils, and other bodies interested. Air W. E. S. Knight, chairman of the Otago Hospital Board, said that the board had been placed in an awkward position, as there was no possibility of the erection of the maternity cottage unless the people interested were unanimously in favour of the proposal. The board thought that a maternity nurse would be sufficient for the district, and the Health Department had agreed to the proposal. However, if the residents were unanimously in favour of the maternity cottage, there was no doubt that the board would grant the request. Air R. Templeton, local bodies’ representative on the Hospital Board, said that it was unfortunate that the local bodies were not unanimously in favour of the establishment of the cottage hospital. It would cost a great deal, and the board’s architect had assured him that it would cost between £3500 and £4OOO. He thought that new buildings should be erected, us it v.as no economy to alter old buildings.— (“Hear, hear.”) Air J. Jacobs (secretary) read the correspondence dealing with the matter. Air Knight then remarked that the board had received 110 official notification that the Palmerston Borough Council had changed its opinion The Chairman said that apparently the Palmerston Borough Council was the stumbling block, and he regretted that he was unable to be present at the meeting which was presided over by Dr P. F. Howden, when a motion was carried unanimously stating that a maternity cottage was not required in Palmerston. This was the result of a misapprehension that the council would have to bear the whole cost. At a public meeting, which was held later, Dr Howden sent word that he was in favour of the proposal. The council meeting wa s the first that- the recentlyelected councillors had attended, and they were evidently of the opinion that it would have to bear the whole cost. He was now sure that the Palmerston Borough Council was in favour of the proposal and that it would rescind the motion at the next meeting. Air W. Hopkins. Palmerston Borough Council, also spoke in favour of the proposal. Mr G. L. Kerr, Mayor of Waikouaiti, thought that the district was not in favour of the scheme. Waikouaiti was to be saddled with some of the expense, and. as the district was well catered for with regard to maternity cases, he did not think this should be so. Air C. F. Overton. Waikouaiti County Council, said that his council was unanimously in favour of the proposal, and he thought that the Qtago Hospital Board had made an excuse of the Palmerston Borough Council’s motion for not carrying on with I he work. Mr J. S. Aliller (chairman of the Waihemo County Council) said that a nurse was a farce, considering the area of the district affected. Air A. S. Cambridge (Waihemo County Council) also spoke in favour of the maternity cottage, which was urgently required. Dr Howden said that there had been a great deal of confusion between cottage and the maternity hospital. The council did not know much of the financial conditions. At the meeting he had said that it was a matter of expense. Tie now thought that a maternity hospital would be a very great benefit. He thought that they would not net people in. To carry out the scheme they would need maternity nurses to go out and visit. Dr T. Al'Kibbon (District Health Officer) said that lie was glad that Dr Howden was in favour of the scheme, as he had been led to believe that he was against it. Dr APKibbon supported the hospital proposal, as he was sure it was needed. To have an institution with the hall-mark of the Otago Hospital Board was quite a different. thing to having unlicensed maternity homes. At Waikouaiti there was a home which, unfortunately, was nert licensed, and it was a pity that this was used as an argument against the establishment of a proper registered institution. There were also three or four unlicensed maternity homes in Palmerston. He said that all along he was not out for a “brick-and-plasrer” institution. His idea was to experiment with a building, and the cot--1 age was unite suitable, and very little further would be required. He thought that that would be the best thing to do. He suggested that for a year or two the building would be carried on. Mr Kerr said that he did not like “climbing down,” but he wished the project every success. —(Applause.) The Rev. Air Foreman also favoured the proposal, stressing the point that if a new building was erected considerable delay would probably ensue. Mr Templeton then said that he would support the proposal. Dr T. T. Thomas said that it was very gratifying to see that, the proposal had found favour. Mr Knight remarked that the board members would leave with a very different feeling than was the case after the first: meeting, when there was an apparently divided opinion. He had a feeling that the matter would be considered favourably. but he was not prepared to say that the department would favour the use of a renovated building. He would much prefer a new building. Dr APKibbon said that the department would not oppose the board in its request from the residents of Palmerston. Ho also preferred a new building, but it would mean waiting gome time. Mr Knight asked if there was any possibility of (he district giving the board assist a 1 ice. Air Cambridge said that on principle he was not in favour of giving subscriptions, as tlie willing people gave and the others refused. However, in this case it was in the interests of the district that subscriptions be taken up. The customary vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting. i

A well-known Arrowtown farmer is going in for the breeding of pigs on an extensive scale. lie expects to have a herd < f 2CO pigs on his property within the next few months