PROPOSED HOSPITAL LOAN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 60, 30 March 1943, Page 4

PROPOSED HOSPITAL LOAN

Sir.—l was astounded to read in Friday's issue that the Wliakatane Hospital Board ill its haste to adopt the motion authorising its* application lor the proposed £45,000, neglected to afford, the ratepayers of its own contributing authorities the consideration of <1 protest- Now Sir, if this, is not a flagrant breach of constitutional procedure, what is it? Here we have an administrative body set up by the ratepayers reiM resentatives —to work in the interests of the ratepayers. This same body advertises for objections to its proposal to raise a loan. Objections are duly entered at least a . week before, the Board's meeting and they are not. read or discussed until the motion is carried authorising the loan and thus are rendered valueless. Well, it certainly beats anything II have heard of as far as local body high-headedness is concerned and makes one -wonder whether the Board really desires to carry out. the will of the ratepayers or is merely trying to put one over<f As a ratepayer in the County who has taken a fairly keen interest in this matter I would, also like to say that in my opinion the £17,500 (£ISOO further for furnishings) for the Nurses Home is put of all' pro* portion to tlie main objective. I rei cognise Sir, the need for accomrao-i dation, but when this accommodation exceeds by a -cool £3000', thd main facility (the women's ward) then I consider the joke has gonjas too far. Its too much like the tai?t wagging the dog for me, M>r Editor, and it makes me wonder whether the Hospital Board is so much con-» centratcd upon the ambitious nature of the scheme to have becomaf blinded to the duty it owes toVtha people of this district, 'who all are the ones who must pay piper and yet who are getting a pretty raw deal in this instance.} Another thing, why are not tho Hospital Board meetings reported in the press as are other local We should then have heard mora progressive reports of the loan anjc| how it was first proposed. When we know for certain just what thct Government intends doing about hospital finance, and when know the bedrock requirements for the hospital and have an estimate fairly based on their cost —not bol-« stereel by sky-high figures that treat thousands of pounds like threepenny bits, then and not till: then, I will be prepared, to vote for the hospital extension loan. I think Mr Editor I am speaking for many reasonably-minded farmers who like* myself are. absolutely staggered, at the Board authorities and methods of handling this unheard of loan.. Yours etc., 'COMMON SENSE.' (The stress was in the habit' of attending hospital meetings regular- . ly up till some 18 months ago owing to the small amount of co|>y made available to it, reports were discontinued. We admit' however that the secretary has mentioned tho matter since to us but unfortunate-* ly has failed to send notification o£ the meetings. Ed.)