TWO HOSPITAL BOARDS ARE HAVING QUARREL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17881, 24 June 1926, Page 5

TWO HOSPITAL BOARDS ARE HAVING QUARREL.

Per Pres* Association. WELLINGTON, June 24. A deputation from the Waipawa Hospital Board- waited on the Minister of Health (Mr Young) this morning in regard to a dispute between the Waipawa and Dannevirke Hospital Boards. Mr Rathbone (chairman of the board) contended that patients in the disputed area could be better served by the Waipukurau Hospital as it was ten miles shorter to Waipukurau than to Dannevirke. He objected to a remark by the deputation from Dannevirkc that the Waipawa Board was breaking a gentleman’s agreement and trying to evad<? their legal responsibiliThe Minister said that he thought they had referred to an evasion of moral - obligations. Replying to the deputation. the Minister suggested that there was a prospect of the reconstitution of one hospital area. The deputation had made it perfectly clear that even if there was power to do so, they would refuse to hand over the revenues they derived. There was still some hope of an arrangement between the boards, he said, and he suggested a meeting between the boards in a spirit of sweet reasonableness with a view to solving the problem. If they could come to an arrangement between themselves, he. as Minister, would ask the Government for legislation to legalise that agreement.