The Patea Mail. Established 1875. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1883. SHALL THE HOSPITAL BE CLOSED?

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1056, 6 July 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1883. SHALL THE HOSPITAL BE CLOSED?

Hospital matters -were under discussion :■ by the Borough Council on Tuesday evening, and the decision arrived sit, to ask the County Council to call a public meeting, seems to have been the proper thing under the circumstances. That request was submitted to the County Council, next day, and refused. We must confess bur surprise that they should have done so, but the majority seemed to think that having washed their hands of the Hospital, the best thing they could do wns to let it alone. We. take leave to differ. The closing of the Hospital is a matter which concerns the whole Cpunty.; -and as.the body to whom the general interests of the district' are confided, we hold th*t the County Council was the proper medium for bringing the subject forward. Had the Borough done so at first, it would have been said that it was anxious to. appropriate the control of an institution in which the country bad a right to a voice in the management. The Borough recognised that, and’ in the public interest simply asked the superior body to call a meeting to consider the matter. We fail to see that the County Council had anything to fear in acceding to the request. The support of the Borough Council was pretty well guaranteed by the .fact of their having passed the resolution, because if they had not intended to assist in any movement to keep the Hospital open they would have said so and there would have been an end of it. It was not a question as to whether the County Connell should resume or take any part in the management, but simply a Teonest to call a public meeting “to take iibiuet tfcru i r "ni c —nrraprear—qnws=tipn’”,so that it might be seen what amount of support was likely to be forthcoming.' As, however, the County Council has declined to move, we think the Mayor would be justified in doing so. Opinion has been so unmistakeably expressed against the closing" of the institution that some steps must be taken, and taken quickly, if we wish to retain s the Hospital"here. '■ The formation of a Hospital "Board presents no difficultie'is, provided s settlers desire such to be formed, as we believe Uiey do. As we remarked before, Government will be found wiliing-itp assist if it is shown that we are ready to contribute a share towards the maintenance. And to ascertain if the people are willing they must be called together to discuss the subjects It must hot be supposed that the stretch of' cotintry between New Plymouth and Wanganui can do without some institution available in case of accidents or sickness. If we allow our Hospital to collapse, Hawera will be in the field immediately ; and in less than a month we shall have the mortification 'of seeing another of our public institutions transplanted there- and Ourselves called open to assist in its maintehance. Let us, therefore, go in heartily for a Hospital Board. We have the Hospital here, and we can keep it, if we like. Let us have the management put upon a sound basis, and strive to make the Hospital a credit to the place. If interest is shown, contributions will come readily enough. There is scarcely a working-man in the district who would grudge a trifle to keep up an institution which he knows, from the nature of his daily labour,: he may perhaps have to avail himself of; and with the help also of the settlers and tradespeople we have no fear of want of fdhds. The effort is worth making, because the object is humane and good. From the care of the sick ; and suffering to the relief of rthe poor and distressed, is. but a step, and we should like to see the question of charitable aid_ discussed inconnection with the Hospital Board. In other places the two have been combined and found to-work well, and it would be worth while considering whether a similar course should not be taken liere. Oftses ! of. genuine distress arise in every community, and relief has to be afforded by one means or another. These cases are best dealt with by a Board whose special charge is to see that such are deserving, and who are less liable to be imposed upon than private charity frequently is. When the object is worthy, Pa tea people are generous ; and if the administration of charity were in the hands of a trustworthy Board, we feel 'safe that when occasion demanded, residents in the district would not belie their reputation for kindly help to those in need.