Untitled

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 27, 26 November 1878, Page 2

At the meeting of tlio Local Board on ' JVid-.iy last, a latter was read from the i Town Cleric of Wimnfauui, regarding the ! admission of patients from this district to j the Hospital there. Tho proposals may be ' stated in a few w vJs. The Government have GJtet'ed to Contribute to tho charitable institutions of tho Colony one pound from the revemw for every pound raised in the j district. Tho Borough of Wanganui hay- ! ing taken over the managemeut of the local Hospital, are willing to i'dmit patients j from this district upon the written order of ! the Chuivman, or some other person duly j authorised by tho Doard, upon condition | that one-half the cost of the patient's maintenance is guaranteed. This is esti- i mated tit aboufc £1 la per week, and will of . course be affected by the number in llos* pit.il, as the greater the number the lower the average cost, and vice versa. The pro* j pos'd method of estimating the cost is from thu monthly rvtnviis, which fvill show the total number of days each patient has been in Hospital, a proportionate share being 1 allotted to each. A fur simpler way i we think, would be to strike a general average cost from a half-yearly return, and fix tlie amount at that, instead of the proposed monthly estimate, as in such matters it is always better to know the exact amount of the liability incurred. Doubtless the residents of this district Avill fully appreciate the action of the Wanganui Corporation iv thus opening tho Hospital to them. We would nevertheless point out that a misconception exists in some quarters ; as to the fXtcnt of the boon conferred upon ; us. A contemporary, referring to a similar i offer, made to another part of the district, j says — " It is virtually giving this Borough \ an equal share — or at least a very laryfe proportion — of the subsidy which it (Wanj gnnui) will receive from Government." This is incorrect, and proceeds from a very superficial consideration of the subject. One haif of the cost of each patient is to be guaranteed by the district which sends such patient to tho Hospital ; the Corpora-; tion of Wanganui receives from tho Government tho other half (namely pound for pound contributed), so that tha Wanganni subsidy is actually untouched. Thus the patients from this district do not cost Wanjjanui a penny, nor touch the subsiJy. We would not be thought wanting in gratitude, but we desire the district to bo correctly iuformed upon the matter. The advantages to bo derived from the very kind offer made by the Wanganui Corporation are — that at a minimum of cost, residents of these districts are enabled to avail themselves of the Colonial grant for charitable purposes ; they have access to a Hospital provided with tho best medical appliances, and a full skiff of surgeons, wardens, &c. ; and moreover, they are in a town where several physicians reside. These are advantages of the vory highest character ; and whilst it would be absurd to expect j tho Wanganui Corporation to give Mutiawatu residents part of oheir subsidy, it is a i subject for gratitude that they have thrown open their excellent Institution to us, upon j the ono condition that no actual cost i 3 ! i entailed upon them.