Mangonui Cottage Hospital.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 46, 19 June 1906, Page 4

Mangonui Cottage Hospital.

We do not identify ourtelvet with opinion expressed by correspondents.

TO THE EDITOR. flir, —I 800 by the “ Age,” dated 12th June, that “Locksley” is again on the warpath with his little harmless (now proverbial) exploding, lacerating shells, but with a very distinct absence of the usual fishwife language that he has shown in the past. I see also that he has taken the cue from me of giving advice, both to myself and my coadjutor. His powers > of perceiving that I have a coadjutor are marvellous—l was flattering myself that I had covered it up so no one would detect it. He also says, “It is useless wasting ammunition against sand or wind, or ink on comparative analogy with those who do not understand it.” Nothing about brains or donkeys this time. “ Locksley,” you are improving. Now, if you believe in what you preach why do you not stick to logic, and not waste so much ink on me ? It is a pure waste, and you cannot afford it. I see that you candidly admit that I puzzled you with my little problem. I was afraid that it would be too much for you, and did not expect your mental capabilities would be equal to the intellect required and you try to get away from it by giving a silly little puzzle, which proves your ability in that line. “ Locksley ” says, “If the poker and tongs cost ton shillings, what will a cord of firewood come to ?” I give it up. Can any of the “Age” readers solve it ? He also says the Council deprived themselves of getting valuable information which might have reduced the cost to one-fourth, allowing the other three-fourths to metal or repair roads. Now, “ Locksley,” I thought you had •V more commonsense than to put forward such an idea. Surely you are not so ignorant as not to know that the North Auckland Board have control of all the money that the hospital may cost, and is it likely that they would hand any of it over to the Mangonui County Council for road work ? I am afraid you do not know ■inhuman nature yet. You also say that all the moving population will still go to the Auckland Hospital. Now, Mr. “iLocksley,” I am afraid you are as full of theory as a Maori dog is full of fleas. How do you know that all the moving population will still go to the Auckland Hospital ? I have an idea that all charitable patients will not have the privilege of -saying where they will go to. The North Auckland will have a say, and quite right too.

“Locksley” also complains of my language, which he says is a close shave of Billingsgate. Judging by “ Locksley’s” choice display of] language Ido not see why he should assume his present attitude and whimper for quarter. He probably feels he has got the worst of the deal. lam only defending myself with the same weapons as he used. He says that “ Mr. McKenzie’s letter of the 1 5th May gives no grounds for supposing that the North Auckland Board will keep up the Hospital.” Mr. McKenzie gives no grounds for supposing that the North Auckland Board would not pay the upkeep. I will refer “ Locksley ” to the Act under which Hospital Boards have been working since 1885, and he may perhaps find information that he does not know. The hospital belongs to the North Auckland Board, and it is vested in them. They have the power to do what they like with it. They are building it, and they will have to pay the upkeep. They have no powqr to levy a special rate on the Mangonui ratepayers. Their rating powers are general only, spread over the whole of the North Auckland. These are facts that I wish the ratepayers of the County to understand.

He also says the Waikato Hospital is in a bad way, and the Waikato people want the Government to take it over, as it takes nearly all their rates to keep it up. I will give a few more figures, in spite of what “ Locksley ” says of my depraving public morals. I quote from the balance-sheet of the Waikato Hospital for 1905: —The number of patients admitted for the year was 445; there is one doctor, a staff of ten nurses, caretakers, cooks, etc. The ratepayers of the Waikato contributed £1,953 12/4. This rate is spread over six counties and four boroughs. When you come to consider the value of the Waikato, which extends to Rotorua, I am afraid somebody is dreaming, and it does not take nearly all their rates.

Now with regard to the history of the Mangonui Hospital: The Mangonui Council asked the North Auckland Board if they would entertain the idea of build-

ing a hospital at Mangonui, to cost about £BOO. They replied that, if the people would subscribe £3OO, they would. The people of Mangonui did so, and there jtho matter ended as far as the Council was concerned. The North Auckland Board called for tenders, plans being supplied by the Government, and the lowest tender was £1,900. The funds that the North Auckland had in hand for the hospital amounted to £1,160, made up as follows: —£300 by the people, Government subsidy (24/- in the £) £360, and Government grant £SOO. The Nojrth Auckland Board returned the plans and tenders to the Government, explaining the matter, and asking them to curtail the cost of the building to suit the funds in hand. Instead of curtailing the Government added £75 on to the costand gave another £I,OOO, and told the North Auckland Board to go on with the hospital. The result is we are getting a fine up-to-date .hospital—a building that is an acquisition to the whole County. I do not consider that the ratepayers of the County have anything to growl about. We asked for a small building, and the Government gave us a large up-to-date building and found the money.—l have the honour to be, sir, BUSTER BROWN. June 18, 1906. [We are at all times pleased to give publication to letters of public import, but in the matter under discussion in this instance, we cannot see that anv good can result from further argument.—Ed.]