The Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1891,

THE TWO HOSPITALS,

Yesterday's discussion at the Hospital Board on the letter received from Picton re the admission of patients into the Wairau Hospital is one that requires more consideration. The maintenance of two institutions must necessarily come expensive to the ratepayers, when one would probably serve the requirements equally as well. Small hospitals, it is now generally recognised, are by no means as economical m their management as large institutions, and where it is possible the Government have made the hospital districts large, bo that the costs shall be minimised as far as can be with due regard to life and the comfort of those who have to be taken long distances to receive attention. The railway between Picton and Blenheim would do away with all the difficulties that have to be contended with where the journeys are long and the line badly laid. No doubt Pioton residents would resent any attempt to close their hospital, as savouring of an injustice, but we would put it to them that no great honor attaches to keeping up two hospitals where one would suffice. This extension of hospitak and other conveniences all over the colony is the result of Provincialism, and it ia necessarily hard to eradicate the idea that what has existed for so long is really an expensivo luxury which the oommunity can very well do without. Apart from the increased cost to the ratepayers for keeping up two hospitals, there is also the question of attendance to be considered. Without wishing to say a word derogatory to the management of the Picton Hospital, we would contend that with the larger institution m Blenheim, with its two medical men, and staff of trained assistants and nurses, the nursing is likely to be better than m a small institution where the facilities are not so great. With respect to the request of the Picton Hospital Board that no patients should be admitted here without the Board'a express approval, that, of course, is- an impossibility, as death might possibly result from the delay incurred m sending word to Picton. In the case of those who are able to pay it would be unfair to deprive them of a choice of hospitals ; and from tho fact that so many choose to come to Blenheim for serious operations it seems that m many instances at least the necessity of having a hospital at Picton is questioned. There are, however, those who cannot pay, and for whom the Picton district is responsible. These cases certainly seem to us those m whioh the Pioton Board has the most right to complain, but even with them it might not be possible to carry out tho wishes expressed by them m their letter to the Wairau Hospital Board. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Act does not confer on any board the power to refuse to pay its liabilities, nor does it empower aDy other board to refuse admission to cases requiring attention, even though they come from another district.