GERALDINE HOSPITAL FOR DISTRICT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23278, 14 August 1945, Page 7

GERALDINE HOSPITAL FOR DISTRICT

Public Approval Resolution Carried The necessity for public hospital facilities at Geraldine was strongly urged at a large and enthusiastic meeting of district residents held in the Town Hall last evening. The speakers said tliat the hospital was urgently needed, particularly for the benefit of parents of families and old people. The Timaru Hospital was too far away to serve the district as a hospital should. Such a hospital, the speakers said, was needed as the district paid rates and social security, and would not rest content until one was established. The Mayor (Mr D. C. McKechnie) presided and other speakers included Mrs T. M. Hutt, Messrs C. C. Burdon, P. H. Davis, W. S. Crotty, P. G. Withers, H. Malinson, C. C. Knight, J. Willoughbv, P. M. McKenzie, R. Murphy, the Rev. J. Johnston and the Rev. Father Fogarty.

The following resolution, which is to be submitted to'the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer), was carried: “That this meeting, representative of all persona in the Geraldine district, urges on the Minister of Health: (a) That adequate hospital facilities be planned for Geraldine to meet the needs of the present and future, and that the provision of 24 beds be made immediately, in addition to the existing maternity accommodation; (b) That he approve the South Canterbury Hospital Board’s unanimous recommendation that ’The Pines’ site be acquired for a public hospital, and that the existing option be exercised before it is too late so that an ideal site will not be lost to future generations.” A resolution expressing the gratitude of the community to the Mayor and Hospital Committee for the vast amount of work that they had put into the project was carried on the motion of Messrs F. E. G. Malcolmson and the Rev. E. R. E. Ross.