The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1911. HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT'S METHODS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14400, 23 March 1911, Page 4

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1911. HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT'S METHODS.

Without 'going into tlie question of whether small consumption sanatoria should be multiplied, or whether there should be only one or two large institutions to meet the requirements of oach island, we think that a good deal of explanation will be roquired from the Hospitals Department before the public will be satisfied with the Inspector-General's treatment of the local Hospital Board in the matter of the proposed sanatorium at Fairlie. The project to erect an institution of this sort at I'airlie was enthusiastically approved by Dr Mason, when he was head of the Department, and approved also by Dr Finch, Health Officer for Canterbury. Under the Public Health Act of 1908, the Soulli Canterbury Hospital Board took steps to join with the Ashburton Hospital Board for the purchase of the site and erection of a building which would meet the needs of the two districts, concerned. When Dr Yalintine succeeded to the position formerly held by Dr Mason, he formed the opinion that it would be better not to go on with the erection of a sanatorium at Fairlie, but for the South Canterbury Board to combine with the Hospital Boards south of Timaru to provide a single sanatorium that would serve the whole of the South Island from Rakaia to the Blufi', leaving the Christchurch sanatorium to serve i'or the rest of the South Island. But by the time he came to this decision, the Timaru Board had proceeded a long way in its negotiations with the Ashburton Board. Between them' they had bought a site, and regulations had been prepared at the instance of the Timaru Board to govern further measures of co-operation. The regulations,-which were made under tlie Act of 1008, were sent to Dr Yalintine to be approved of and gazetted, but the InspectorGeneral appears to have pursue.l a policy of passive resistance to ilie Board's request, and his approval was delayed for five long months, during which time the Act under which the regulations were made was repealed. The opinion of the Solicitor-General was then adduced by him to show that the approved regulations were now useless, and that the South Canterbury Board must begin again, and enter into a fresh agreement with the Ashburton Board under the new Act. The South Canterbury Board's legal advisers consider that this opinion of the Solicitor-General was based oji a misconception of the I'm-i*. and to a lay understanding tii •

clauses which they quote have very little meaning il' they do "not mean tJjut the agreement mode between the Boards under the Act ol 1908 is still quite valid. "It would indeed he an extraordinary stale of things," the Board's solicitors wrote, " if, after the South Canterbury Board had partly performed the agreement on its Hide, and incurred liabilities and obligations on the faith of it, delay by the Department; until after the repeal of the Act under which the agreement was made prevented the necessary steps being .taken to give effect to it." If Dr Valintine is strongly opposed to a consumption sanatorium ut Fairlie, it would be far more satisfactory if lie would bring forward arguments to show the Hoards that they are makitig a mistake, Instead of playing with them in vho way resented. Dr Valintine appears to have a special talent lor '.rning unnecessary' irritation to local bodies, and if their,letters ho unanswered for the long .periods alleged, and then are followed by replies which give so little' ,sa taction, there is' not- much' r iotii ■or wonder at their nmwy i ice, During' a discussion on' another subject at the Board's last meeting, it was stated by a member that " the Inspector - Gejieral would not even take the trouble lo answer the Hoard's letters. Five months ago Dr Valintine had saiil that a padded cell was required in Tirnaru, and that he would m;o that one was provided, yet from that day to this lie had neglected to take another step, and 'vouM not even reply to the Board's letters." The Inspector-General, in fact, appears to possess some of those qualities of the autociut which are resented even in Mexico, and local bodies in New Zealand are lunch less disposed !o lmt up with the methods of u Din'/. It would seem, from the evid?uc3 of the Board's solicitors, that the Soyth Canterbury and Aihbiirfon Boards will have a good ' ; nan-v.!' of obtaining the answer ihey d:sire if (hey should resolve to a:ik •the Supreme Court for a deal iritorv judgment on the question c£ the validity of the agro-mient which was formed between iinua.