King Country Chronicle Wednesday, July 2, 1913 MORGUE FOR TE KUITI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 581, 2 July 1913, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, July 2, 1913 MORGUE FOR TE KUITI.

I __♦ ~ The unsatisfactory result of the ap- . plication of the Te Knit Borough Council to the Waikato Hospital Board for assistance toward* the arection of a morgue at Te -Kuiti diacloaei a position which requires the oon•idaration of the authorities, with a view to assigning definitely the! responsibility for the 1 providing of such facilities. The Hospital Board appartakes the attitude that a* there ) is no provision made to compel the r board to contribute towards a morgue ! no responsibility in that respect should be recognised. As Mr Bofldie, in replying to those who adopted that > attitude, pointed out the functions of • the board should not be entirely dossfc : nated and directed by the strictly finan- ' cial aspect of the eaie. The matter ' [ is one which may well be aaid to-eome s within the scope of the board's funo- . ' turns, and in asking the board to as* " sist the local council can at least make . out a fair case. The morgue would serve a very large district which contributes a considerable portion of the board's revenue. There is nothing in the ehape of a hospital facility in the 1 district and the amount which the ■ board would be called upon to contribute would be infinitesimal compared - with the revenue derived from the dietrict. Admitted that the hospital at Hamilton is open for the King Coon" try patients equally with those j nearer the hospital it is very doobt- ■ fol if the cost to the board of the • King Country patients absorbs the amount of the hospital rate" levied in J the district together with the Government subsidy which the rate carries. The subsidy to Hospital' Boards is specially liberal in view of the great humanitarian work which the board is supposed to be responsible for. In any case the question as to whether there is any direct responsibility at- ■ taching to the board ahould be defln- » itely decided, and it la to be hoped no time will be lost in getting the opinion of the authorities on the position. It may be fairly contended that If the i borough is entitled to contribute at J least an equal responsibility rests upon the county. The majority of the eases for which a morgue would be used would probably come from beyond the borough limit, and the object is one in which borougb and county » could readily co-operate. In view of J the urgent necessity for the building, wa trust prompt steps will be taken to i have the matter placed on a satisfactory fcoting.