The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANT DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1906. THE WAIKATO HOSPIIAL.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8020, 28 September 1906, Page 2

The Waikato Times, THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE, AND KAWHIA ADVOCATE. Established Thirty-Four Years. THE OLDEST DAILY NEWSPAPER IN THE WAIKATO. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION OF ANT DAILY PAPER SOUTH OF AUCKLAND. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1906. THE WAIKATO HOSPIIAL.

It is to be hoped that success will attend the efforts of the member for Waikato to obtain a grant of £3OOO towards the cost of the new Waikato Hospital, for there is no doubt whatever as to the necessity aud justice of the demand. As briefly outlined in yesterday's telegram from our Parliamentary correspondent the total cost of the hospital and nurses' home will be £12,300, of which the Government contributed £SOO. It is altogether out of the question to expect the Hospital Board to hud the £II,BOO required, for the annual income no more than covers the cost of management. So far back as October, 1 ( J02, in commenting on this subject we wrote: "To our mind the best, and in fact, the only logical solution of the difficulty was for the Government to have assisted the Board by a grant to enable it to erect larger buildings." We reiterate, with- even more assurance, the principle then laid down. It is an extraordinary increase of settlement that has led to the present state of affairs ; an increase,too, largely in a district which is not called upon to contribute towards the cost of any hospital. This may have been advisable some years ago, but the time has surely arrived when some alteration should be made. Even apart from this, there has been a very substantial growth within the rating area, and it is quite equitable that the public funds should be drawn upon, for has not the State benefited i largely through increased taxation, both direct and indirect ? Has not the general prosperity of the Waikato been an assisting factor iu bringing about that financial strength Sir Joseph Ward found so gratifying the other day ? However much we sympathise with the efforts to obtain necessary bridges and good serviceable roads, we must not forget that these are not much more important than are efficient institutions where the suffering may receive skilful modernised attention ; tha ailing restored to health and strength; and flickering lives saved for further usefulness, Then again, to dispose of a prospective objection —it is all very \yell for cavillers to cry " Bribery and Corruption., " but it is a significant fact that the loudest voiced and most bitter are those who are exceedingly anxious that such should be extended to the North. By all means let public money be spent here—but let it be understood that we do not regard it as bribery. The swing of the pendulum has advauced the North after many years of natural stagnation, and iu keeping pace with that advancement, it is absolutely necessary aud merely justice that public works should be prosecuted here. Therefore we think the Go. vernment should aocede with good to what is undoubtedly a very modest demand the graut would be expended in the best possible way, for which statement a sufficient guarantee is given in the fact that Dr. Macgregor has approved the plans of the new structure prepared some time since.