The Waimate Advertiser. (Established 1898) Published every evening since 1914 MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1928. HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 25 June 1928, Page 4

The Waimate Advertiser. (Established 1898) Published every evening since 1914 MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1928. HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Throughout New Zealand there is awakened interest in hospital matters. The Director-General of Health in his attitude toward hospital progress, keeps himself in undesirable limelight and fills with misgiving, the minds of all who desire the betterment of health conditions. In South Canterbury the week baa brought forth two notable matters. The Diamond Jubilee of the Borough of Timaru is at hand and in discussing methods of commemoration the community has decided to provide the money for a new building at the Public Hospital to be called the Diamond Jubilee Women’s and Children’s Ward. This is very commendable. The references to the need of such a building were not extreme in their disapproval of existing accommodation for women and children at the base hospital. Much more could have been said without injustice. The South Canterbury

j Hospital Board members realise this* bitt are unable to see the way to providing costly structures at present. The diamond Jubilee block will relieve the Board, serve the public and most fitly stand as a com memorative monument for the diamond jubilee of progressive Timaru. The second matter to which we refer is not as welcome and came to light at the South Canterbury Hospital Board meeting. During a somewhat prolonged discussion on the resolution of the Waimate Hos pital Committee to provide at a cost of about £2O an appliance urgently asked for by the medical staff, the reporters noted that a gentleman member asserted that this purchase, ■was against the interests of ths base hospital -which should possess the best of everything and be made the centre for all good work. A lady member was understood to say that she thought that all the. surgery was to be done at Timaru. We have made enquiries and find that this proposal is another of Di Valentine's schemes. The base hos pital at Timaru is to be equipped with all that can be secured in in struments and appliances and to this hospital in days to come al) surgical work throughout South Canterbury is to go. This may sound very practical to Dr. Valen

tine, but to a layman there is very much to be explained. We trust that before the Board definitely accepts such a programme we shall see the matter well discussed locally. Waimate Hospital at present is superior in operating theatre and equipment to Timaru and much will have to be done before we shall be convinced that what may sound theoretically perfect to Dr. Valentine is a practical impossibility for us. Meanwhile docs the Waiuiate Committee know of this proposal which so unexpectedly leaked out at the recent meeting of the Board ?