MARTON HOSPITAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 224, 21 September 1945, Page 3

MARTON HOSPITAL

COSTS STILL MOUNTING BOARD EXPRESSES CONCERN CONFERENCE BEING CALLED. Proposals to build a dual-purpose maternity and medical and surgical hospital at Marton received a check when it was announced at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday that the estimated cost of the new building, complete with ail facilities, was in the neighbourhood of £50,000. Board members debated as to whether such an expenditure was warranted, and on the motion of Mr. T. C. Kincaid (Taihape), who represents the Borough of Marton, it was decided to call a conference of contributing local bodies and others interested. This meeting, whch wll be open to the public, is to be held in Marton in the near future. The architect, Mr. C. N. Hood, reported that he had prepared the final preliminary plans for the new hospital (to consist of eight maternity beds and six for other purposes) as required by the Department of Health. The estimated cost of the building, with drainage, reading and other necessities, was £46,000. but this did not allow for furniture or equipment, which would cost another £l5OO.

The secretary, Mr. K. Harris, said salaries, wages and maintenance of the new hospital would cost the board £37so,annually. By the time the new hospital was ready for occupation the cost would be in the vicinity of £50,000. When the board first started off with this proposal, nearly three years ago, the cost was estimated at £16,000. Since then the estimate had mounted steadily and costs were still soaring. Mr. J. H, Wells said it may he better for the board to purchase the Hazebrouck Maternity Hospital, which would serve Marton for some time. The chairman. Mr. D. D. Simpson (Hunterville): Departmental officers consider that the longer we wait the more we shall have to pay for the new building. “One of the reasons for the cost being so high is that the Marton hospital is intended for a dual purpose” said the secretary. If the Marton people were prepared to accept a maternity hospital plus a casualty clearing stawith ambulance attached for other cases, the cost could be reduced. In this way urgent medical or surgical cases could be transported to Wanganui in half an hour, or slightly more. “This increase in costs is an eyeopener,” said Mr. D. G. Gordon (Taihane), who favoured the beard waiting till the report of the Select Parliamentary Committee which investigated local bodv affairs was made available, the object being to see if there was any relief for the hospital rating system. yi feel very perturbed about what this hosnital is going to cost, and 1 shall vote against it ” said Mr. A. S. S. Coleman (Marton). “I very much doubt that Rangitikei will be pleased if we commit the board to that expenditure. Compared with the number of beds we are gct'.ir.g it h out of the question.’*

“We promised the Marton people that they would have a hospital, but in view of the cost I can’t see how we can. go ahead.” said Mr. L. W. Narton (Ohakune).

“I am in a very unenviable position as representative of the Marton Borough.” said Mr. Kincaid. “We made a definite promise to the Marton people that they would have a hospital costing about £28,000, hut we now find that it will cost double that amount. Wo should not rush hurriedly into a large expenditure, but we should invite representatives of the Marton Borough Council, the Rangitikei Countv Council and any others interested to a conference in Marton and explain the position to them. We should not refuse to go on with the project without consulting them.” Mr. A. P. Howard (Marton), seconding the motion moved by Mr. Kincaid along thes<» lines, said he believed that this was the proper course to adopt. “It may be possible to go ahead with the mnternity side of the hospital and complete the other portion later,” he added.

“I have been against this heavy expenditure all the way, and I’m pleased to see that we are getting down to our responsibilities,” said Mr. R. G. Taiboys. “There is a policy set up to bleed th e ratepayer and I think a lot of it comes from the department. If it were left to us I don’t think we would have half these matters cropping up. ...I believe that the best proposition would be to purchase Hazebrouck, but I don’t agree with departmental officers when they say that prices will remain high. But Marton is certainly too close to Wanganui to warrant an expenditure of nearly £50,000 on a hospital there.”

The existing maternity hospital in Marton was inadequate for the needs of the town and district, said the chairman. He thought that Mr. Howard’s suggestion that only the maternity portion of the new hospital be built in th? meantime wag a good one. “I suggest that we obtain an estimate of the cost of this maternity portion,” the chairman added.

Mr. Kincaid: If we are not going to carry on with the Marton Hospital after promising it to the people we can only do the decent thing and tell them about it.

“It is nearly three years since this hoard promised the Marton people a hospital,” said Mrs. J. J. Scott. “Procrastination is the thief of time.” Mr. Kincaid: And money, too, in this case. After further discussion Mr. Kincaid’s motion was carried, Mrs. Scott cl issentfci g.