THE COLONIST. MONDAY, JULY 3, 1916. THE HOSPITAL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14128, 3 July 1916, Page 4

THE COLONIST. MONDAY, JULY 3, 191 6. THE HOSPITAL.

When the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board meets this week to further consider the position that has arisen in connection with the erection of the new Hospital, the members will be fortified with the views of the conference of contributing local bodies, to be held tomorrow. We are not altogether clear about the status of the conference, as under the present law hospital matters are entirely outside the province of local bodies . other than the Hospital Board, which is now directly elected. However, it maybe that the discussion at the conference will assist the members of the Board to irake up their minds on the important question they are considering in such leisurely fashion. We can answer for the general public that they long ago became impatient with the Board's methods, and are viewing the continued delay with no little apprehension. They see in the continuance of the deadlock between the Board and the Government more than a danger that the subsidy towards the erection of the new building may be withdrawn, or at least payment deferred for a considerable time1. We are not aware of the terms of.the Minister's latest communication to the Board, bat we shall not be surprised if it takes the shape of an ultimatum to | the Board to come to a decision one way or the other. As we have freI quently contended, the Board should j have closed without delay with the best bargain it could strike with the Minister, within reason, of course, and, as in view of the abnormal conditions I which must ipgulate public expenditure for a considerable- time to come, payment of the subsidy otherwise than by instalments spread over the progress of. the buildirg was clearly not to be expeoted, the Board should have at once accepted the Minister's promise to provide the subsidy in that way. Whether the funds in the Board's possession or the subsidy should be drawn upon first, or each alternately, seems to us immaterial; it is certainly not a point of sufficient importance to justify prolonged haggling, imperilling the whole undertaking. The Minister's explicit promise should have been sufficient for the Board, and if it is still open any further hesitation in accepting it will expose the Board to the deserved censure of the public, whose interests have already been gravely menaced by its excessive caution. It is worth while to point out that it is not only payment of the Government subsidy that is likely to be jeopardised by unnecessary delay. The basis of the whole project, Mr Cawthron's contribution of £15,000, was not an unconditional gift. In his letter of February 17th, 1914, handing his cheque to the Board, Mr Cawthron wrote " . . . .1 shall be glad to know that you have received the promised subsidy, of £18.000 from the Government, failing which from any cause I expect the within mentioned £15,000 to be refunded to me." At that time it was contemplated that the subsidy would be available in one sunc. The outbreak of war made that impossible, and also led 'to the Board delaying the matter unduly. Now the subsidy has been available for some tiire on what must under the circumstances be deemed a satisfactory basis, and if it is withdrawn the Board will be entirely to blame. In that event Mr Cawthron's gift must clearly be refunded to his estate