TE WAIKATO SANATORIUM

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14539, 10 December 1920, Page 2

TE WAIKATO SANATORIUM

BOARD AGASN DISCUSSES IT. WAS THE HE A HOW? COMMISSION IDEA FAVOURED. There was further reference at yesterday's meeting of the Wmkuio Hospital Board to To Waikatu Sanatorium. Some lime ago Hie Board asked that a Commission be set up l" enquire into Ihe matter. The I'Kiko County Council forwarded a resolution passed against the Public Health Department's intention to close the Sanatorium at Cambridge. Mr Wagslaff enquired what was the latest in regard to Ihe position. The chairman .-aid that he had nut heard any more, anil lie could not say what, was going to be done. Tile secretary was of Ihe beliet that the Department intended to close it, hut that it would be a matter of a little time before Ibis was effeeed. Mr Dickinson: A considerable Lime, I think.

Mr Wag-da IT had arrived at the | conclusion, through what he had read, the Cambridge Borough Council appeared to court the closing of Ihe institution. The Board should lake more aggressive steps towards keeping it open. It had passed a resolution advocating the setting up of a Commission to enquire, but had received no serious or satisfactory reply. It seemed to him that Ihe Board wis somewhat passive in the matter. Piako was very strongly in favour of 'i'e Waikalo being kept open. He thuught that the Boaru should stick to its guns in this matter. Tile chairman was of opinion that a Commission should be set up to take the evidence of all the local bodies in the district, of which there were a very large number concerned. It was Mr Bailey's belief that the feeling favoured Te Waikato being kept open. Mr Hill said that the Board should endorse the resolution. Mr Johnstone held that the Department was in abetter position lo gauge the situation than laymen. The report, of one medical man had a lot to do, he thought, wild the resolution before them, ihe new provision I" be made for these patients at Waipukurau might be just as good. "They should know what is best for themselves,' he added in reference to the Departmental decision. , A Member: We ought to know what is best for ourselves! .Members: Hear, hear! Mr Dickinson was of Ihe conclusion that the institution would have to be kept open, as Ihe Defence Department would not lake Ihe patients at Pukeroa, where it was intended they should go. Mr Blackmann characterised the whole affair, as a row between the Health and the Defence Departments. "It is nothing else. If we keep on hammering away, we will keep Te Waikato open," he added. The Board endorsed the resolution from the Piako County, and will write again to the Minister, seeking a Commission.