GERALDINE HOSPITAL FOR DISTRICT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23279, 15 August 1945, Page 3

GERALDINE HOSPITAL FOR DISTRICT

Minister Convinced Of NecessityEarly Decision Promised "I am pleased to be able to say that 1 am convinced of the necessity of public hospital facilities being established in Geraldine after the ease you have presented,” said the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) when he was met by the Geraldine Hospital Committee and the special committee appointed by the South Canterbury Hospital Hoard at Geraldine yesterday. “I will be pleased to give my sanction to the proposal when more detailed plans are submitted by the South Canterbury Hospital Board.” It is gratifying that no argument has arisen at Geraldine regarding the site as is the case in so many instances,” said Mr Nordmeyer. “It is pleasing to know that you are unanimous about it, and that the Hospital Board agrees with you. I would like to see the site before I give my final decision. The Health Department is anxious to see that satisfactory water and drainage facilities are available.” There might be differences of opinion about the need of a hospital but there would be no difference of opinion about the need of public hospital facilities, said the Minister. The Department liked to see 10 beds a 1000 of population available, but it was generally recognised that major surgical cases would have to go to Timaru. A local hospital could provide service for a majority of cases, and this was specially necessary for elderly people and children requiring treatment. It was a pity that they should have to go away from the district when in need of hospital treatment, and children were much happier when nearer their own homes.

The Hospital Board will be aware of the facilities that are needed, said the Minister, and he was convinced of the

necessity, especially for those residing in those outback areas much further away from Timaru than Geraldine. Mr Nordmeyer thanked those present for the warm welcome they had extended to him. He was greatly impressed at the sincerity behind those putting forward the proposal, and even before coming to Geraldine he had given serious consideration to the representations that had been placed before him in Wellington. Welcome to Minister In extending a welcome, the Mayor (Mr D. C. McKechnie) said that it was particularly gratifying that they should have a Cabinet Minister in Geraldine on the eve of momentous news about peace, and he thought they should congratulate the Government on the wonderful war effort it had led in New Zealand. He also congratulated the Minister on the attention that was being paid to preventive medicine as was indicated by recent newspaper advertisements.

It had been felt for a long while, he said, that the most urgent need of the district was public hospital facilities, and representations had been made by various people and organisations in this direction. The committee's efforts had been greatly encouraged by the Minister’s statement at Waimate that a district could successfully deal with nine out of every 10 cases. An enthusiastic public meeting had been held the previous evening when a unanimous resolution summing up the district’s claim for a hospital had been carried. The meeting had asked him to emphasise two points: that Timaru Hospital was too far away to serve the district for all except cases requiring base hospital treatment, and that parents and old people particularly, felt that a local public hospital was essential. Case Set Out In Brief The secretary (Mr A. J. Kennedy) then read a comprehensive resolution, carried at a public meeting the previous evening, setting out in brief the case for a public hospital at Geraldine. The chairman of the Geraldine County Council (Mr K. Mackenzie) said that county residents were strongly behind the proposal. One reason was that the sum of £6300 was expended annually for hospital facilities, and the ratepayers could not benefit from them fully because they were too far from Timaru. The inconvenience and expenses of the long trip to and from Timaru made a local hospital essential. Mr Mackenzie then read a further .resolution which had been carried unanimously urging that the Ministerexercise the option of "The Pines” site because it was generally regarded as ideal.

The women in the district felt the great need of hospital facilities, said Miss E. L. J. Davies who spoke on behalf of women’s organisations who had passed unanimous resolutions urging the establishment of a hospital. She spoke of the disabilities of women, particularly mothers of families, in facing the long journey into Timaru on crowded buses under the existing system. She could say that the women of the district would not be satisfied until a hospital was a reality in Geraldine. The difficulties of returned men receiving medical attention and making frequent visits to Timaru was emphasised by Mr F. W. Morgan, president of the Geraldine R.S.A. Many of the men were in a bad state of nerves and their recovery was retarded through bus travel and the time wasted. Many of the men who had fought would fall sick and would require hospital treatment. Mr E. Macdonald said that the South Canterbury Hospital Board had given the matter full consideration, and after thorough investigation was convinced that a hospital in the district was justified. Because of this, it had passed a recommendation on to the Health Department. It was greatly impressed by the site suggested, and hoped that the matter might be hurried along so that the site would not be lost. Enthusiasm for Project Mr J. Acland, M.P.. said that the enthusiasm for the project was so great that they could have filled the Town Hall had they wished to impress the Minister in that manner, but those present were just the general committee. He greatly appreciated that the Minister had seen his way clear to come to Geraldine at his request to investigate personally, because Cabinet Ministers were busier men than people generally realised. He felt that sufficient had been said to convince Mr Nordmeyer that, everyone in the district, in addition to the South Canterbury Hospital Board, was hoping that he would sanction the proposal. The site was an ideal one, and it was necessary to decide quickly if the option was not to expire. After the meeting, the Minister inspected the site with the Mayor and members of the Hospital Hoard. He stated that official word would be sent from Wellington about the acquisition of the site immediately on his return to Wellington. Members of the Geraldine Women’s Institute acted as hostesses at the afternoon tea. Peace Celebrations A decision to elect a strong committee to arrange immediate peace celebrations, in addition to holding an official peace carnival at a later date, was made at a meeting in the Geraldine Town Hall on . Monday night. The Mayor (Mr D. C. McKcchnic) presided. It was agreed that if peace news | came through before 5 p.m. on any