MINISTER OPENS NEW BUILDING

Southland Times, Issue 23650, 27 October 1938, Page 6

MINISTER OPENS NEW BUILDING

Block At Waipiata

Sanatorium

DONOR’S GENEROSITY PRAISED MENTION OF MR T. PRYDE’S WORK AS SECRETARY (Special to The Times) DUNEDIN, October 26. The new administration block at the Waipiata Sanatorium, the erection of which was largely made possible by the generosity of Mr Samuel Saltzman, was officially opened today by the Minister of Health (the Hon P. Fraser). The occasion was a’ notable one in the district and there was a big attendance of visitors from Central Otago, as well as from Dunedin and from the hospital districts from which patients are drawn to Waipiata, including Southland. The new block which has just been finished will provide much-needed administrative and X-ray facilities and will be a valuable adjunct to the already substantial group of buildings which comprise the sanatorium.

The chairman of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee (Mr E. Macdonald) extended a welcome to all present and especially to those persons who were representing sister hospital boards. The new building, he said, had been made possible only through the generosity of Mr Saltzman, whose benefactions to hospitals and similar institutions were well known. Since 1923 eight, and latterly seven hospital board districts had been carrying on the work of the sanatorium and altogether more than £lOO,OOO had been spent on land and buildings. As only £lO,OOO had been received from the Government in direct grants, the constituent districts had had to be called on for the rest and they had paid up cheerfully. Mr Macdonald added that he could not emphasize strongly enough the debt the institution owed to Mr Saltzman, without whose magnanimous assistance the new block could not have been built. \ MR FRASER CONGRATULATED “It is a pleasure to me to be here representing the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand and also the Otago Hospital Board,” said Mr J. W. Dove, who is chairman of both bodies, “and I wish to congratulate both the Sanatorium Committee and ourselves on the return to power as Minister of Health of Mr Fraser. So far as the hospital boards are concerned politics do not enter into tlie position and we view Mr Fraser’s return with pleasure, because we recognize that he is always willing to help us and to help others.” Mr Dove said the Otago Hospital Board was particularly pleased to be represented on the occasion of another of Mr Saltzman’s benefactions. In conclusion, he congratulated the Sanatorium Committee on the work it had achieved since its inception and referred appreciatively to the personnel of the committee, mentioning especially Mr JaJmes Ritchie, who was a foundation member. “We are proud of the fact that the climate of Central Otago is such that an institution of this kind can be established here with such magnificent results as have been achieved in this case,” said Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P. “I hope that in future still greater service will be given to those who are unfortunate enough to be suffering from tuberculosis. I think the greatest achievement of the institution is the wonderful proportion of cures that have been made and it must be a source of great satisfaction to the medical and nursing staffs that their work is meeting with such effective results” “I hope that this building will meet the present requirements,” said Mr Saltzman when addressing the gathering. “The contribution which I made towards the cost of it was made in a desire to alleviate suffering and to help the needy and because I was impressed with the excellent work the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee had done since its inception. The progress of medical science is living evidence of man’s achievements and great credit is due to the medical profession for its selfsacrifice in the interests of mankind. It has given me much pleasure and satisfaction to help this sanatorium and if the new building will serve the purpose for which it is intended I will consider that I am well rewarded. I think it is our duty to give service to the community according to our ability to do so.” CHEERS FOR MR SALTZMAN The Minister, in his opening remarks, referred to the generous gifts which Mr Saltzman had made to various hospitals and similar institutions and said that in the present instance he had helped what was one of the most important institutions in New Zealand, judged by its purpose and its achievements. If there was a citizen living in New Zealand at the present time who deserved the wholehearted appreciation and thanks of everyone that person was Mr Saltzman.

The Minister then called for cheers for Mr Saltzman, which were heartily given. “When I called this one of our most important institutions,” Mr Fraser said, “I spoke with great appreciation as Minister of Health and as an ordinary

citizen of. the wonderful and encouraging work that has been done here. This sanatorium is a monument to the goodwill and co-operation of the hospital boards which are represented on the committee. The boards united in 1923 and began operations in 1924, when they purchased the private sanatorium of Dr G. Byres, who had searched the Dominion for the most suitable site for a tuberculosis sanatorium. The success of this institution has been such that if tomorrow my medical adviser told me that it would he necessary for me to enter this hospital for treatment, I would do so knowing that there was a good chance of my coming out of it cured. Nevertheless, we must do our best to prevent the disease and I hope that in time we will have a campaign that will wipe it out altogether.” . , Referring to Mr Dove’s remarks, the Minister said that during the three years in which he had been Minister of Health, he had received from the Hospital Boards Association the best of help and co-operation and he felt that it would be possible to achieve a good deal more during the next three years. WORK OF COMMITTEE Mr Fraser spoke of the good work achieved by the Sanatorium Committee and the staff since its establishment and mentioned especially Miss Wilson, Miss Shepherd and Miss Pryor, as well as Miss Jenkins, who had been on the staff from the inception of the institution.

Commending the record of the sanatorium, Mr Fraser said that during the year ended March 31 last the patients discharged numbered 100. In 63 cases the disease was arrested and in 16 cases it was quiescent. Patients were improved in 10 cases and in seven cases the condition was unchanged. During the year 79 per cent, of the patients had been discharged with the disease either arrested or quiescent and as Minister of Health he congratulated the medical superintendent (Dr A. Kidd) and his staff on the magnificent results that had been achieved.

The Minister also congratulated the patients on their cheerful bearing and referred appreciatively to the work of Mr T. Pryde as secretary of the Sanatorium Committee. Mr Pryde enjoyed a high reputation as a hospital board officer and it was a matter for regret that the Sanatorium Committee was shortly to lose his services through retirement.

The Minister’s reference to Mr Pryde was greeted with loud applause.