THE HOSPITAL.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1059, 13 July 1883, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL.

. TO THE EDITOR. Sib,—l understand that 1 in the ab-; sence of the Mayor, Councillor Aitchison was requested by a number of our townsmen to call a public meeting to decide .what .steps should be taken concerning the Patea Hospital, and I understand that Mr Aitchison consented to do so. On this becoming known to another of our Councillors, .he said that he stood before Mr Aitchison in 'the Council, and if Mr Aitchison -did call such a meeting, that he would oppose it by every means in his power. Another of our Councillors claims precedence, on the ground of having received more votes at the election. “ Billy Wilson;” during his brief reign, could not have said anything so silly ! What matter who called the meeting, so long as the object aimed at was obtained. Mr Aitchison was spoken to, not because ho was highest or lowest in the Council; but because he was the first one met with; and I for one was simple enough to think that all members of the Council wore cquol in authority, as representing the ratepayers who elected them. No one can be surprised at the prosperity of Patea while we have such a publicspirited body of- men for Councillors. They never allow personal vanity to stand in the way of the public good. While our people are snarling over precedence, the Hawera Council are making arrangements for timber and plans for an hospital in Hawera.. The people of Patea will shortly; find themselves without an hospital, or a place to build one: for unless something is done at once the Government will in all probability sell the place, to recover the money they have already lost by it.—Yours, &c., Wokkman.