A GIFT QUESTIONED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 49, 27 February 1913, Page 3

A GIFT QUESTIONED

HAR&OUR BOARD AND THE HOSPITAL. A donation by the Harbour Board j'to the Wellington Saturday' and Sunday Hospital Fund Was questioned by Ml. Darnell (Wairarapa) at the hoard meeting ket evening. Mr." Daniel wanted lo know whether a donatipli could bo l'igbt* ly givch by the board to other hospitals in the Harbour Board Electorate? Tho Chairman said no doubt Mr. Uaiifrell was right, in questioning thfe j donation referred to, but H had been given by the board before. The workers' round the wharves, however, contributed numbers of patients in the. hospital. Mr. Daniell suggested that the hospital was not, v charity. Mr, .7. Trevor said if the hospital was not a charity he did not know what was. Mr. Macfarlphc thought if ci donation Was given to the Wellington Hospital, why not to the country hospitals? " Mr. Cohen supported My. Daniell. not bfting prepared to limit tho operation I *;^ the principle to one hospital. * Ml 1 . C. W. Jnnes said the shipowners had to pay for the case* they Gent to the hospital, and it was not a charity In that sense. Mr. Trevor pointed out that ' a good many of the men sent to the hospital were unable to pay-ralso p&tiente came from other parts of the Harbour Board disf.net. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald expressed Bttrprise at objection being raised by "coun« try" members. Why did they not Apply for a donation ? Mr. M'Ewan said quite a large number of people came from the bnckbloeke. to the hospital. In reply to Mr. Harknese, the Chairman said the boatd contributed a verysmall amount, of rates, ,t6 .tlie 'hospital. He understood .that . iMo'oo in 'patients' fees were written off last year. The donation was approved by eeven to fix, the .following bcinc the division : > s Ayes— The Chairman, 7ie«Brs. i' Cable, Cohen, Fitzgerald, Trevor, M*Ewnn, Hildreth. », Noes--Mc6sr£. Harknesfc. v Ffeetu, Mfce* farlane, Jone.«, Daniell, 'Rentier.