THE PEOPLE'S COLUMN.

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1915, Page 2

THE PEOPLE'S COLUMN.

KAMO SPRINGS PURCHASE.

(To the Editor.)

[Our columns are quite open to the public for the discussion of matters of public, concern. We Invite correspondence, but do not identify ourselves with, the views expressed by our correspondents. —Ed.]

Sir, —Reading Mr Harrison's letter with its amazing inferences, his knowledge as a farmer, and his insinuations regarding some mystery he says surrounds the transaction, induces me to say a few words on the subject—with your kind permission. First, unless the ratepayers directly or indirectly have appointed a body of unscrupulous brainless men on the Hospital Board, Mr Harrison's criticism is not playing the game. There are times when in the ratepayers' interest parts of public business have to be kept quiet. I don't know any of the Board, but to my mind they are farseeing, enterprising; Owing to the elaborate and appointments as a hotel, the property may not be as remunerative as it should be at present, but for what the i Board suggest putting it to, It is a bargain and an acquisition to the district. ■ *. ; J Mr Harrison's assertion that a business man would not build a branch, some miles away" from the business j he, is running makes me say that if ' all business men's views were so narrow that they could not see any further than the perch they are on there would : not be any large firms.

As to the farm portion: Considering the quality of the l|nd it will be ignorance and not the fault of the farm If it -loes not pay handsomely. T knew of men paying up to £10 an acre rent for vegetable-growing land. A nice fenny it must cost the Hosp'/al at the prices of vegetables. Th*re is nothing to prevent the farm suppiying meat, mutton, vegetables, milk, butter—and some cream to top off with. Mr Harrison cunningly harps on the "won't pay" business. Doos he think the public such thick-heads as to believe any hospital pays? It is a necessary but a big consuming institution—a splendid asset to tradesmen when stuck in a town. Quoting his wonderful business ideas, can anyone run a big town house as cheaply as one in the suburbs with a farm attached? He. advocates sinking the money on the present hospital site, situated at the deqd and stuffy end of the town, buying land at town prices —the position just right for inhaling Whangarei's mud-flat perfume. I inquired about ajiouse property near there some time ago, but when the owner's reason for, selling was that the doctors had advised his wife, who • was in delicate healthr^l^WSy - *' from that quarter, it made me" tht'aJr. Apart from that the country supplies a large portion of the hospital's" :*- ---venue. Maternity patients like healthy and cheerful surroundings. Convalescents—either soldiers or "Civilians—want the same, and the benefits of the baths. The projected site *s practically as handy to JKamo as it Is to Whangarel' for hospital purposes, and I don't think the country p-jple should tolerate the dumping of ail their money on the one spot .to pfease Mr Harrison and" his friends. Mr Harrison says: "Leave the wountleJ soldiers to the proper authorities." Perhaps the proper authorities are the reason for the Board not givlmjMr Harrison all the information he thinks should be so largely distributed by the children on the Board. He says theconvalescent soldiers will-go to their homes to be treated/ Apart from hundreds who practically . have ur> homes, can men be treated for_rheumatism, etc., at their homes, and who/is to attend them? Mr Harrison says it is not the business of the Board. That's funny, because the Auckland paper of yesterday gives an account of Dr. Dudly forwardlng a cheque of £400 to .the Ho&pital and Charitable Aid Board for that very purpose.

I The quest job is: Are we going to let a non-progressive party prevent the district from acquiring a splendid property—cheap, admirably suited for the.requirements.stated—and of which I feel sure the : ' Government, if properly approached, would take over the sanatorium part and run it on Rotorua lines. If the present opportunity is lost, good-bye to the chance of not only a sanatorium but a place of rest an-i pleasure for the North. And goodness knows we want'something. Where are Whangarei's reserves for sports grounds, parks, etc? Haven't got any; can't afford it, and yet when the young people clear out and go where they caa get healthy pleasure some people can't understand it.—l am. etc.,

S. C. JOU.N'NEAUX. P.S.—As a resu't of the deputation from the FnUt Growers' the Ovrmr ."d: - o looking in the north of Auckland, suitaSSJßs an experimental fruit C-rm. The'7?overnment already own ten acres joining the springs -property;' the whole scheme could be Incos-po -ated in the same deal.— S.C.J.