Marton Hospital Proposal “Kicked About Like Football”

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 July 1947, Page 4

Marton Hospital Proposal “Kicked About Like Football”

(0.C.) Marton, July 23. “The Marton Hospital proposal has been kicked about like a football. When the Department of Health was ready to play, the IJospital Board was not, 'and when the board was ready to play, the department was not,” said the Mayor, Mr. F .Purnell, at the Marton Borough Council meeting tonight, commenting on a letter from the Wanganui Hospital Board, advising that the Department of Healths approval for thc building of the Marton Hospital had now been postponed indefinitely.

So far, said the Mayor, the only party to honour its promise were the residents of the Marton district, who had raised the stiff hurdle of 15000, as imposed by the Hospital Board in its letter of November 19, 1945, and had made provision toi a free site plus reading and contributions to thc sewer.

Mr. Purnell said that last April, the chairman of the Hospital Boaid advised him that the Department of Health had agreed to the construction of the Marton Hospital forthwith, provided the Marton district residents were prepared to accept a modified scheme to comprise six maternity beds, lour medical and surgical beds, and one small operating theatre.

"This definite undertaking was promptly accepted, and now, within three months, (he Department ot Health has obviously repudiated its own undertaking,” concluded the Mayor. A reply along these lines is to bo sent to the Wanganui Hospital Board, advising them that lite matter has now been referred to the Mayor, and to Messrs '! E Barton and A. P. Howard, representatives on the board, to take any action deemed necessary.