THE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13938, 20 April 1909, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL.

One of the penalties of growth is the constant necessity for fresh expenditure in meeting the increasing demands of society ior conveniences of one kind and another. If New Plymouth nnd the surrounding districts were in a condition of stagnation there would he no need to provide greater hospital accommodation; but the population has increased so rapidly of late years, and the indications point so strongly to an even more rapid rate of increase in the immediate future, that it is already necessary to find more room at the hospital, and very soon it will become a matter of urgency. The medical | superintendent brought the question to the notice of the Board yesterday in a letter, in which he pointed out that the accommodation has been overtaxed for some time past, and that he has had sometimes to refuse admission to patients beqause the*fe was no room for them. Under these circumstances there is nothing for it but a new building, which should undoubtedly be of brick or ferro-concrete.' It does not necessarily follow that the Board will have to face an immediate great expenditure. Indeed the cost of a new hospital might be spread over several years. The existing Buildings will serve their purpose for. some time yet, and the pressing need might be met by the erection of a brick building to serve as a children's ward and to form a wing or portion of a large block to be completed at some future time. It would be poor economy to pull down existing buildings while they are still capable of fulfilling their purpose, and there is no reason why a new hospital should not be built piecemeal — a children's ward now, a women's ward in a year or two, and a "male ward later on.. In that way the financial strain would not be unduly severe on the district, and steps might be taken to help the Board by voluntary effort. We may expect to see a rapid growth" of the population of this town and district during the next few years, owing to the completion of .the harbour, and the Hospital Board will almost certainly find a great increase in the demands upon its accommodation, so that no time should be lost.in submitting to the public a scheme of rebuilding.