NEW I PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13928, 6 April 1909, Page 3

NEW I PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

(To the Editor.)

I Sir, — With other ratepayers I have [been considerably exercised this last iweek to notice that the Hospital Board has destroyed the fine live hedge along [the Dawson Street frontage of the grounds, and has begun the erection of a most expensive brick and mortar fence. In connection with this I should like to ask, Mr Editor, for some information. First, has this fence been authorised by the Hospital Board, or is the expense being defrayed by a private and anonymous benefactor? If the former, and the expenditure is coming out of public funds, were tenders called for the work? My reason for inquiring is that many, I might say the great majority, of the ratepayers, whilst not objecting in the slightest degree to any expenditure on the hospital and its equipment so as to enable the staff to maintain and improve the high standard of efficiency that now obtains under the present most capable regime, do decidedly obect to our money being spent on useess ornamentation (save- the mark) to the grounds. Here we have a perfectly sound fence, good for years to come, backed by a fine live hedge, always looking trim and presentable, torn down and uprooted to make way for a perfoctlty unnecessary brick erection, costing, 1 should say, anything up to £15Q, probably more. This kind of management is not conducive to breeding a spirit of liberality among the public when Hospital Saturdays come round. I shall be glad, sir, if you can supply the information asked for above. If the work is being done by private munificence, then my remarks are, of course, uncalled for, and I apologise here and -""j^-ft •&„. [tfpon inquiry we learn that the cosi of t,he wall is being defrayed out of the Hospital Saturday fund, not out of the rates ; also that tenders were invited, though not through the press. We may further say that it is the expressed wish of many subscribers that their voluntary contributions shall be used for some such purpose and not upon the ordinary maintenance or building of the hospital. The actual position is this : The old fence has beeii costing the Board several pounds (£6 or £8, we are told) per annum for repairs to the post and wire fence and for cleaning and trimming the live hedge, and it was becoming necessary to renew most of the posts, as they were nearly rotten, while a fungus had attacked the hedge. The Board, therefore, deemed it best to build a brick wall, which will cost nothing for repairs, etc., out of the voluntary contributions, thus saving its ordinary funds the cost of renewal of posts and of annual upkeep. — Ed. T.H.]