WHAT ABOUT THE HOSPITAL?

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

WHAT ABOUT THE HOSPITAL?

Is any effort going to be made to retain thp Hospital in Patea, .or -is it to bo, allowed to ‘'defunct” quietly?! The latter -seems; to be the most - probable course, as ife’ have not ; heard of any movement in the other direction. True, our' columns have been teeming with letters, protesting against the Hospital being closed, but. it will want something m.ore‘ Uiah correspondence to turn the' Government from'their purpose. Where is the Mayor that he docs not make some sign? Surely in response to the people’s wishes, so universally expressed, he might take upon himself to call a public meeting. ; Day after day passes by and nothing is done. Patea seems like a ship without a rudder, drifting about wherever the winds - choose to blow. And every day’s delay weakens the chance of retaining our hospital and strengthens themovement which is now on foot in Hawera to have the institution in-'that. town. And have it they will unless we look sharp. We do hope there will be no further shuffling about it. First, the County Council won’t have anything more to do with this precious .Hospital, and suggests that the Borough should take it in hand. Then the Borough declines, and says the County should- speak first. The County returns the compliment to the Borough, and so the game goes on, Hawera laughing at us all the time, and quietly preparing (o administer a coup io the,whole affair by snatching it out of our hands. For goodness sake let ns put a stop to it.. If we don’t want the Hospital, let us say so, and let it be shifted up the Coast, where it will be appreciated. But if we do want to keep it then we should get up and say so. If the Borough, or County Councillor the Mayor do not like the; job, then let a couple of leading citzens undertake to call a meeting. We will •guarantee ii. good attendance, and, then we should have the satisfaction of learning what we really want, and what we are prepared to do. At present we know neither.