Evening Post. SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1881. THE GOVERNMENT, THE COUNCIL, AND THE HOSPITAL.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 71, 26 March 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1881. THE GOVERNMENT, THE COUNCIL, AND THE HOSPITAL.

It is our misfortune to be compelled 'sometimes to differ very decidedly from the views of his Worship the Mayor on public questions, and it is therefore with all the more pleasure that we are able heartily to approve and support his remarks made at the last meeting of the City Council, touching the aotion of the Government in respect to the management of the Wellington Hospital. It will be remembered, we mentioned some days ago, that the Government intended to carry on the arrangements in regard to charitable aid and Hospital management after the close of the current financial year, on the 31st inst , under the same provisional and temporary system adopted in similar circumstances last year. It was not, however, until the meeting of the City Council, on the evening before last, that an official intimation to this effect was received from the Government, the Council being requested to continue the management of the Hospital after the 31st instant, pending, legislation on the general question in the next session of Parliament, the Government undertaking to find the necessary funds in the meantime. On this the Mayor expressed his willingness to give his services on behalf of the Hospital, but flatly refused to be a party to spending one penny of the ratepayers' money or contracting any liabilities for the support of the Hospital after the termination of the current financial period. He pointed out that when on a former occasion the Council, at the request of the Government, did incur liabilities on account of the Hospital, the Government afterwards refused to pay more than a part, and, in fact, only paid just as much as they chose, not even giving any reason for their action. He further remarked that if the Government desired the Council to take oharge of the Hospital, it would have been only courteous to communicate with the Council earlier, instead of leaving it to the last moment, and he pointed out that next week there would be no contract in existence for tha supply of the institution, the Government having simply lot the matter drift, taking it for granted that the Council only needed to be told to do ,i thing to obey instantly. Against this view, and this treatment of the Council, he strongly protested. We entirely agree with every word that fell from Mr Hutchison on this subject. The Council have just reason to complain of shabby treatment on the part of the Government in respect of their past association with the Hospital, and the Mayor is quite right in insisting that the ratepayers' money shall not be expended on matters to which it iB not fairly applicable, and, as past experience proves, with no absolute certainty that the full sum expended would be recouped. It would be quite possible that, after the Council had incurred what they deemed necessary expenses in connection with the Hospital, the Government might turn round and, on the ground that they had been too extravagant, refuse to refund the full snm expended. The Mayor was quite right to stipulate that this risk should not be run by the city. In the present condition of the municipal finance, the Corporation cannot afford te be generous, an J until the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions are placed definitely under the oharge of the Council, with provision for their support, the Council have no right to pay away the ratepayers' money without any security of reimbursement for the advance. This is only one point of complaint. Another is the discourtesy shown to the Council by leaving until so late the communication of the Government's intentions. It would have been only polite to let the Council know as soon as possible what was expected of them, and, as a request was made, to assume, at least, that those to whom it was preferred had the option of refusing it. When a favour is asked, it is seldom good polioy to take consent for granted. And, apart from the question of courtesy altogether, it should have been remembered that it was hardly reasonable to leave the matter until bo late that all the contracts for supplies were on the verge of expiring, and until there was no time left to advertise for fresh contraots, if the Council agreed to undertake the work. As it is, we understand that unless some hurried arrangement can be be made by the Council before Friday next all supplies will cease, as every contract will have terminated on the previous day. This is not at all a proper state of affairs, and we say plainly that the aotion of the Government in th* matter has been exceedingly unsatisfactory. There could be no possible valid re won for all this procrastination. The Government must have known ever since last session what they would have to do in default of legislative provision for carrying on the hospitals throughout the Colony, and it seems to us an inexcusable piece of carelessness that all the needful arrangements were not made at least a month before those already existing ran out, instead of " putting off the evil day," and for no earthly reason procrastinating until the time had all but expired. We cordially oommend the Mayor for the very proper stand he has taken in this instance, and we -hope he will be thoroughly supported by the Public Works Committee, to whom the matter has been referred. No money ought to be advanced by the city, or one farthing of liability incurred) without very distinct and explicit security for its prompt payment, without its being subject to arbitrary deductions. We shall be surprised if a similar stand is not taken up by the Municipal authorities in all parts of the Colony, and we certainly cannot compliment the Government on the way they have dealt with this important matter.