AMALGAMATION OPPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 6

AMALGAMATION OPPOSED

Hospital Districts

MEETING APPOINTS COMMITTEE Sixteen people attended a public meeting convened in Riverton last evening by the Mayor (Dr N. G. Trotter) to appoint an executive committee to further the protest against the proposed amalgamation of the Southland and Wallace hospital districts. The need for publicity for the project was emphasized. The public portion of the meeting 'was confined to general remarks by four speakers, the meeting going into committee after those present had been elected an executive committee. Dr Trotter piesided. In his opening remarks, Dr Trotter said that the work for the meeting that evening should really have been done at the previous meeting. The former meeting, however, had been very prolonged. He felt that they were on the right lines in forming a committee in Riverton, as wall as in other parts of the district. The Riverton committee could be the central committee. “A thing is not worth while unless you fight for it,” he added. “During the past six years I have not been very conversant with what has gone on in the hospital, but I have had long experience of medical matters in this district and I know this: The Wallace hospital in the past has not received enough publicity. I wish to emphasize that.” , , •xDr Trotter added that a subscription list had been opened, a “fighting fund, to gain money to defray, expenses for advertising, printing and incidental expenses incurred in keeping the Wallace hospital under its present control. He thanked those who had subscribed, especially the anonymous donor who had given three guineas towards the “fighting fund.”

Formation of Committee

; Mr J. A. Martin moved that all those • present form themselves into a com- ■ mittee. Unless anyone present had an > apology for an absentee, only those ■ present should be placed on the com- ■ mittee, he said. Mr W. B. Hopcroft said he thought : that bearers of lists should be added 1 to the committee, or, at least, given ■ the opportunity of going on the comi mittee. . , I The motion was carried with the ■ addition of the words “with power to t add,” Mr Martin remarking that he • had no wish for anyone really hiteri ested in the movement to be excluded. E The main point to be considered, said t Mr E. B. Patrick, was organization. It ! had been found in the past that can--1 vassers had done well enough, but 5 there had been an overlapping of t duties. It should bv made certain that • all who had a vote and were interested 1 in retention should have their names • on the petition. They should give the people an opportunity of attaching their signatures to the petition. To do that it would be necessary, he thought, to i employ paid canvassers to obtain signa- / tures to the petition. = At this stage the meeting went into s committee to elect a chairman for the i executive, and to appoint sub-com- ;. mittees. e The business done in committee was 1 not confirmed in open meeting, so that e the appointments made cannot be given e by the Press. e Those present were: Messrs F. Webb, j V. Rose, J. S. Patterson, J. A. Martin, > E. B. Patrick, H. E. Philp, G. R. Bemde ston, W. B. Hopcroft, J. Hopkins, W. j Hannan, J. Green, C. Cassels, W. Cousins, G. Cassels, G. Carmichael and ; H. Pope. _______