FULL SUPPORT GIVEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 55, 7 March 1946, Page 4

FULL SUPPORT GIVEN

MARTON PEACE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

LARGE PUBLIC MEETING HELD (Special Reporter). Marton, March 6. Full support for the action of the Mayor of Marton, Mr. F. Purnell, in agreeing to sponsor an appeal for a Peace Memorial Hospital only on condition that the Wanganui Hospital Board erected a new building on the site already provided off Rira Street, half-way between the town and Martan Junction, was given at a public meeting held in the Druids' Hall tonight. More than 100 were present, representing town and country districts, and the suggestion from the Hospital Board that a dwelling in High Street be purchased and converted into a hospital was not favoured. Mr. Purnell, who had convened the meeting, traced the history of negotiations for a new hospital in Marton from December, 1943, when local body representatives met the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, to the present time. There had been much coming and going but Marlon was still without the hospital, said Mr. Purnell.

The Wanganui Hospital Board, according to a letter he had received Irom the secretary, discussed this question at its February meeting. He had been asked if he was prepared to sponsor an appeal for £5OOO towards the cost of erecting the hospital at Marton as a district peace memorial, and whether he would still be agreeable to sponsor the appeal in the event of a private dwelling in High Street being acquired and converted into a hospital. REPLY TO BOARD.

Mr. Purnell told the meeting that he had informed the board that he was willing to sponsor the appeal only on condition that the board agreed to provide a new building, as already agreed on. The meeting had been called to obtain an expression of public opinion on the question. The letter received recently was the first intimation he had received that The board even contemplated acquiring an old building.

“I am prepared to sponsor the appeal for a new building but no; for an old building being converted.” Ml . Purnell declared. He had already been given an expression of opinion by various citizens and country residents, and had been assured of promises of amounts totalling £2016 as subscriptions towards a peace memorial hospital. This very satisfactory result had been achieved without a general subscription. Asked why Marton and the district should subscribe towards a hospital when the Wanganui Hospital Board already had a project of capital expenditure approaching £lOO,OOO, Mr. Purnell replied that as far as Marton was concerned it was entirely a personal matter. “We have agreed to have a peace memorial and why not a hospital? he asked. "Surely we can honour the memory of those who have gone from this district and have paid the supreme sacrifice without worrying what the cost might be.”

Mr. F. J. Christensen said that the Wanganui Hospital Board owed Marton a hospital and that the town had been neglected. “But if we want a hospital we have got to do something for it,” he added. “Quite a few people feel that Wanganui to a certain extent has held a pistol at our heads. We need a hospital here and this seems a quick way ot getting it.” HEALTH DEPARTMENT. '

Mr. A. P. Howard, a member of the Hospital Board, said the board must be governed to a large extent by the Department of Health. He was sure that the department would not have agreed to the proposal of a hospital being erected in Marton had it not been for the assurance that part of the cost would be raised by public subscription. Mr. Howard added that he was not in favour of a dwelling being acquired and converted into a hospital. "Once you start alterations to an old building you never know where they will end.” he said. "The dwelling offered to the board is a very nice place but there is no room for the expansion which must come in the future. I can’t imagine anybody sponsoring an appeal for taking over an old building as a peace memorial.

Mr. Howard said that the estimated cost of taking over the old building and converting it into a hospital with provision for staff quarters was £ll,000. Half this amount would be met by Government subsidy, leaving a balance of £5500 to be found by ratepayers. Assuming that the new building would cost £21,000, the £5OOO raised by public subscription would carry a special subsidy of £1 for £l, a total of £lO,OOO. On the balance required, £H,OOO, the Government would give a subsidy of £5500. The ratepayers would therefore he required to find a balance of only £5500. “It is unthinkable that anyoocly would contribute towards an old building when they could get a new building for the same cost to ratepayers as a whole,” said Mr. Howard. UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

On the motion of Mr. T. Low the meeting unonimously agreed to the Mayor sponsoring an appeal for £5OOO for a peace memorial hospital provided that a new building Was erected. The motion was seconded by Mr. W. J. Mogridge and carried. Mr. T. Barton was subsequently appointed convener of the men's committee which will assist in raising the balance of the £5OOO required. Mrs. F. Gorringe was appointed convener of the women's committee.

"One is encouraged by the unanimous vote to-night that you will all do your best to see that within a reasonable time we shall have a hospital in Marton that is not only good to look at but is also good for the patients,” said Mr. Purnell at the conclusion of the meeting.