Public Opinion

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 28, 23 March 1928, Page 3

Public Opinion

V HOSPITAL MATTERS (To the Editor) Sir, —I must beg a little of your space. I may say that I was very much amused when reading your account of the Kaitaia deputation that waited on the Minister for Health, Hon. Mr Young. A little plain speaking will not be out of place re hospital matters. In doing so, however, I may reopen some old wounds and may hurt somebody’s feelings also. Dealing first with the deputation that waited on the Minister at Mangonui. By chance I happened to be one of them and had my little say with the others; yet Mr R. Wrathall got all the abuse and I got none. I would be only too glad to take my full share. Most of the Kaitaia speakers condemned Mr Wrathall for reopening the controversy of East and West. For my part I was glad that the question was reopened for the reason that the Minister and also the ratepayers should know where they stand. I am not surprised at some of those that formed the Kaitaia deputation objecting to having the question reopened, for they were responsible and caused all the trouble when the question of the erection of an hospital at Kaitaia was first mooted. A small cottage hospital was the object and noone east or west had any serious objection to a small cottage hospital. But when some of these self-same individuals who now object to having the question reopened, started a silly agitation to shift the main hospital to Kaitaia, then the fun began. It was East v West without any beg pardons. I have no intention of going into all the details. The result of the fight was that the West was licked. The East advocated a small cottage hospital for Kaitaia, and the main hospital to remain at Mangonui. The Kaitaia deputation who waited on the Minister were no doubt smarting under defeat, which accounts for them coming to the Minister with a tear and a sob; stating that it was regrettable that this silly controversy should have been again revived, but they forgot to tell the Minister that they were the cause of all the trouble. When speaking to the Minister 'at Mangonui, I told him that there would probably be a deputation to wait on him at Kaitaia. I also told him that probably that deputation would only consist of the good people in the Kaitaia town area, and with very few exceptions, what they contributed to , the hospital rate would hardly jingle on a pauper’s tombstone. According to the paper account, I was correct. The men who pay the rates were not there, many of whom pay more rates than the whole of the deputation put together. lam quite willing to admit that the people who live in Tin Town have as much right to express their views as anyone else. But they had no right to tell the Minister that they were speaking for the whole of the Western area. The Minister tells us that a new hospital for Kaitaia will cost £33,000, £16,500 of that amount will have to be found by the ratepayers. The interest and sinking fund would roughly be about £IOOO or £I2OO to be collected in rates, add that on to the Hospital rate we are now paying, and then see what the ratepayer will have to say.

And I say “without fearof contradiction” (if. vou will allow me to use one of Colonel Bell’s figure of speech), that it a poll of the ratepayers was taken in the that it would be turned down. The talk of increasing rates to most people in the Western Area just npw has given them a bad taste, in the mouth. I don’t'blame the town -people for trying all they know to shift the hospital. It would-be very fine if it could be done! Most of them have little or northing to pay. It is the ratepayers outside the town area who will have to pay; many of them are sow paying in hospital rates

alone £4O or £SO a year. The town people now say that they are willing to wait. Just so. After what Dr. Vallentine and the Ministerhavetold them they know they will darn well have to wait and a good long time too. All this twaddle about having the hospital where most of the population may be living, makes me sick. What would the country think if the people of Auckland started an agitation to have the seat of Government shifted from Wellington to Auckland because it was the largest centre of population. Would it be common horse sense to do so, when they have all the buildings and appointments established there ? It is just the same with the hospital. Leave things as they are as long as we can, and consider the taxpayer. I have heard many people in the town area express the opinion that the Kaitaia Hospital should be gradually increased until it takes the place of the Mangonui Hospital. Well, sir, that is in my opinion an insane idea and for the welfare of the county and ratepayers. I hope the Hospital Board will not attempt it. If that is done it will be an out-ot-date batch when finished. Would it not be commonsensetomakethe old buildings do as long as we can, and when the evil day comes, and we have to build a new one let us have one that is up-to-date, one that will be a credit to the county, also build it where it will be central. Dealing with the question of centralising; if by so doing it will be a saving to the ratepayers, by all means have it. But on the other hand if it will not be a saving, then there will be no advantage.

By what the Minister has told us we know where we are, and I have confidence in the commonsense of the ratepayers; not to allow a few to play ducks and drakes with the rates, which they would do if they had a free hand. The Cottage Hospital at Kaitaia will be an additional cost to the ratepayers; probably £ 1000 a year. But that will not matter, if by having it here, it should save life. 1 think Mr Editor that I have wandered on long enough; it is hard to stop when I get on this subject. Yours etc., G. Wilkinson. Kaitaia, 20/3/28.