THE HOSPITAL.

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

THE HOSPITAL.

At (he adjourned meeting of the Borough Council on Tuesday the proposed closing of the Hospital by Government came under consideration. Or Adams thought the best thing to do would be (o ask the County Connell to call a public meeting, as ho did not see that the Borough Council could do anything in :tbe>i?natler. He'had been asked by some if his Council would take it over, but he thought it too heavy a responsibility. He thought the Hospital should be managed by a committee composed of representatives from the various local bodies. He thought that os the County Council had the management in the past'they should be the ones to initiate a different management in the future.

The Mayor said with reference to an interview which'Mr G. S. Cooper, the Under-Secretary had, held with him n regard to this matter that Mr Cooper and Dr Keating had asked him what his Council were prepared to do in taking over and managing the Hospital. He replied that he could not say wha't the Council were prepared to do, as they had not .considered the .matter. Both Dr Keating and Mr Cooper seemed surprised at this, as the County Councilhad passed a resolution, advising that this body was the proper one toadminister. He them that if they would state the terras on which the Hospital would be taken over he would call a special meeting of the Council. They then asked his view on the matter, and he told them he thought the institution would be. better managed by a Board. He somewhat dreaded taking over the a l l ti on gh“ttie-tT‘ovetnnioiit were good at giving a start, still they might find in a year or two—-as they saw in the matter of the libraries—that all donations were withdrawn, and the whole thing left on their hands.. . ~ Or Williams thought the institution ought to be supported by the whole district. '

The Mayor: I may say that Dr Keating asked my opinion as regards the management, and I said if the Government were to find the larger portion of the funds they should have larger share in the management. If a Board were formed, lot the Borough . Council nominate one member, the 'County. Council' one, and" the Govern--ment'- T did not know whether the elective system would do in Hospital Boards, ' ■.but',. I thought the nominative would work very of-no -use :to have representation in Hawera, the management must be in the Borough, as the Board might have to meet at five, minutes notice. If the Government were to ; have the larger share in the representation that would prevent .Hawera saying ; this Borough was taking the management of the Hospital.into their own hands. Cr McCarthy: 1 saw something in the paper last night stating that a man named Matthew Flynn! was nearly starving'. I know that there is nothing the matter with this man. To-day Mr Gadsby sent down lor him to do some work cutting firewood, but Flynn was nowhere to be found. Now this is what gives the Hospital a bad name. Cr Adams moved “ That the County Council be asked to call a public meeting to take into consideration the Hospital question.” He did not exactly agree that they were to expect no assistance from Hawera. When the railway was completed they would get patients from Hawera and even Norman by, and down south as far as Waitotara. What they wanted to find was how much the County would really contribute to keep the Hospital open. The only way to find oat the real view of the district—whether it was the public wish that the Hospital should bo,kept open or not—was to call a meeting. They conlcl not .take the initiatory steps but the County ■Council should. He thought the suggestion of tbe;/Mayqr that the institution should be managed by an Hospital Board the only feasible way; r 'i Or 'Aitchisori seconded tho motion. He believed this was, the best course for the Council to lake. The County Council did manage or mismanage, and were connected with the Hospital last. He thought it would be a rash step for the Council to commit itself to any extent in this matter, although it was important that the Hospital should be kept open, As far as the Government were concerned, in .the Financial Statement they appeared, to maintain the hospitals of ilia. colony, and he thought they would be glad to keep this one open if the people would contribute a little. The appointment of a Board of Management from the sources suggested would be the best thing in this esse. He believed most people would contribute something, as they must see the necessity for supporting such an institution. Or McCarthy said he had been speaking to a good many of the .Railway labourers, and they said that in other

parts of the colony 6d per week was kept back from their wages to support the local hospital, and that they would be, willing to give the same amount here.

Or Paul was favour of the resolution. He believed if a systematic canvass of the district were made, a gd'od lot'of money would be raised. He knew that in other parts of the country, whore a large body of men was working, it was as Or McCarthy stated. The Mayor said the Government were going to increase the amount for the Hospitals ..this year.- ... . _ Or Adams thought that if the here were to do as Or ‘McCarthy - had stated they would- be Willing to, it would be a first-class thing. It would give the men a sort of right to the Hospital, whereas now they look at it in a pauper light. The resolution was then put and carried. The Mayor: I would ask the Councils opinion as regards charitable aid. There have been several persons who have come to mo for aid, including this man Flynn. I gave .Flynn the price of his breakfast, but I found him a short while afterwards almost in.the X)T’s. Or Adams thought the matter might be left over till next meeting. Or Aitchison agreed with Or Adams. Should any extensive case arise, if the Mayor were to grant assistance he thought the Council would endorse his action.