COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS WILL DECIDE SITE OF NEW WEST SANATORIUM

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1946, Page 5

COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS WILL DECIDE SITE OF NEW WEST SANATORIUM

WANGANUI, PALMERSTON, LEVIN?

(Special) PALMERSTON N„ Nov. T. No finality in tlio selection of it site for the mueh-discussed new tuberculosis sanatorium was reached at a protracted meeting of the Western Hospital Boards’ Joint Sanatorium Committee held to-day.

The only decision at which the committee arrived was that an expert committee, comprising five personnel from outside the Western Districts area, should be appointed to carry out an inspection of the territory and report back to the committee with recommendations.

The committee of experts will be three tuberculosis experts, one civil engineer and one administrative officer. It will inspect three sites (one at Westmere, Wanganui, one at Levin, and the other' at Palmerston North) and report to the committee, possibly within' two months’ time. It is believedthat the site recommended will be ’ chosen.

At the last previous meeting ot the committee in Patatorston North, the special sites sub-committee was enlarged to include the two new Wellington members, and a lull survey ot sites in the committee's area was organised to take place on October 29, 30 and 31. This sub-committee was to report to the next full meeting of the committee with a report and recommendation, and the chairman, Mr. J. A. Nash, expressed the hope that the site issue would then be settled. PRESS SHUT OUT

Press representatives from Wanganui, Palmerston North and Wellington were not permitted to-day to report any of the discussion on the question of sites. The committee began its meeting, as scheduled, in the board room at the Otaki Sanatorium, where items 1 to 7 on the agenda were dealt with. Item 8 was listed as “Visit to Levin and consideration ot matter ot site for new institution.” Before this item was taken the meeting adjourned for lunch, after which an inspection of the Otaki Institution was made. Members of the committee, together with its officers and representatives of the press, then journeyed to Levin, where one of the Wellington delegates, Mr. H. F. Toogood (chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board), pointed out a site on the Levin-Foxton highway, approximately one and a-half miles north from Levin. IN COMMITTEE • The committee returned to the Levin Borough Council Chambers to continue its meeting, but before pro-

ceedings began Mr. Toogood asked the chairman how the meeting was constituted, “Are we tn committee, or are we continuing our earlier meeting of the full committee?" he asked. “We are in committee," replied the chairman. “Is this the sites committee, or ui it the full committee?” asked Mr. Toogood. "Wellington wants little publicity in this matter." “What you want to know is whether we are tn open committee or not,” said Mr. A. L. Campbell (Hawera). "We are now resolved into the sites committee,” replied the chairman, Mr. Nash. “We have finished with our other meeting at Otaki. The press can get a statement afterwards.” The full sanatorium committee then went into committee, although Item 8 of the general agenda paper had not received consideration. They went into committee at 3 p.m. and came out at 4 p.m. and the only information released to the press was that one decision, reported above, regarding, the expert committee. xl any report on the sub-comnut-tot s survey, carried out according to plan, together with any recommendation, was made to the full committee, this information was not made available to the reporters. The new sanatorium was originally estimated to cost £300,000, out the opinion lias since been expressed that it might cost nearer to iaO J.OOO. The whole question, and particularly that of the site, is one of intense public interest throughout the committee’s entire area. The next meeting of the committee will be held on Thursday, December 12, 1946, at Palmerston North. Those present yesterday, were Messrs. J. A. Nash, chairman (Palmerston North), H. F. Toogood and C. Meachen tWellington), A. L- Campbell (Hawera), T. R. Anderson (Stratford), D. D. Simpson (Wanganui), R. JJ, Brokenshine (New Plymouth), M. J. B. Dougherty (Taumarunui), Dr. T. C. Louie (district medical officer ot health), Mr. A. J. Phillips (managingsecretary), and Dr. C. F. Wilson (medical superintendent, Otaki Sanatorium).