DEBATE ABOUT £10

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 3

DEBATE ABOUT £lO

VOTE FOR THE HOSPITAL HARBOUR BOARD MEMBERS £ISSENT. Considerable discussion took place at the Harbour Board last night on a request from the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for a donation towards its funds. Tho chairman, Mr Fletcher, moved that the sum of £lO bo granted. Mr C. B. Daniell; What will bo the position of similar bodies in the Wellington harbour district if they ask for a contribution? The Chairman: We have a large number of men employed about the wharves, and they use tho hospital very freely. Mr J. Trevor: We get at the hospital as many persons from the wharves as from all the other places in town put together. There’s a good number of them that don’t paysome, of course, do. This £lO will mean £22 to us, with the Government subsidy. Mr M. Cohen said he would not under any circumstances raise his voice against a donation to such a worthy institution, but if the grant was made) he could not understand what position Palmerston North, Levin, and other country districts would be in. The board derived a great deal of its income from the backblocks. Mr C. W. Jones said that as representing tho shipowners, he desired to point out that any wharf-labourer injured had his hospital expenses paid, besides receiving compensation. The boaid was dealing with public funds, and he objected to the donation. Mr A. Macfarlane: Pahiatua, Palmerston North, and Masterton have hospitals. If you give a grant to one, why not to all? Mr Daniell: You are bound to look at this question from a business standpoint. Sentimentally, .1 am with you. Mr J. B- Fitzgerald regretted that the matter was being looked at from a parochial standpoint purely and simply. Men from the wharves got good attendance at the hospital. Mr Cohen: No; it is a question as to whether you are prepared to accept an enlargement of the principle. Mr Fitzgerald: Well, let them make application 'accordingly. , How much would it amount to? A member about £IOO. Mr J. W. MoEwan said he was not at all convinced in the argument that because they gave a donation to Wellington Hospital that this was a reason why they should give it to others. There were special circumstances in this case, in view of the number of men disabled at the port. Mr Cohen: While supporting this, at the same time what’s the difference between a man being injured through loading wool at Feilding or loading it on the wharf? The Chairman: No difference, but quite a number come into the hospital from the country districts. Last year the Hospital Board wrote off £4WH) which patients could not pay. Tho motion was carried by seven votes to six. Ayes; Messrs Cohen, Oobbe, Fitzgerald, Fletcher, Hildreth, McEwan, Ih-evor. Noes: Messrs Daniell, Freeth, Harkness, Jones, Macfarlane, and Benner.