O'NEIL SEEKS HOSTEL FUNDS

NALTREXONE doctor George O'Neil said yesterday he needed another 50
families to give $1000 each to his Northam heroin rehabilitation
hostel so he could pay off the building.

Responding to Northam residents"and Labor Party concerns that the
hostel may not be run properly due to a shortage of funds, Dr O'Neil
said $50,000 of the $350,000 cost already had been paid.

Another 53 families had promised $1000 a year but he needed more
donations.

"We really believe that they will come out of the woodwork," he
said.

Dr O'Neil also rejected a proposal by Labor drug spokesman Alan
Carpenter that the hostel should be set up in the old Sunset hospital
building in Premier Richard Court's electorate of Nedlands.

He said the old Northam hospital was chosen because addicts wanting to
kick the habit needed to get away from their dealers and friends who
used drugs.

Mr Carpenter criticised Planning Minister Graham Kierath's decision to
give the green light to Dr O'Neil's hostel plan for the nurses
quarters on the Northam hospital site.

Mr Kierath overturned Northam Town Council's wishes on the grounds
that the hostel was in line with the building's former use.

Mr Carpenter said given Mr Court was so keen and the Northam residents
were opposed, he should hand over the Sunset hospital building to Dr
O'Neil.

The Premier attacked Mr Carpenter's suggestion yesterday, pointing out
that Dr O'Neil's Subiaco clinic, from which thousands of addicts have
been treated, was in his electorate.

"This is a serious issue that does not warrant smart alec comments,"
Mr Court said.

Northam mayor Jan Smith said yesterday Mr Kierath's decision smacked
of hypocrisy because he had not even seen the Northam site.

If he was so concerned about helping the drug addicts, as he had
claimed, he would ensure the Northam hostel was funded properly and
managed properly.