HOSPITAL MAY CLOSE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 50, 20 February 1945, Page 8

HOSPITAL MAY CLOSE

MANGONUI COUNTY'S POSITION

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER

An interesting sidelight on the result of the attitude of the Mangonui County Council's decision is furnished in the following report from the 'Board and Council': —

"My opinion, is. that this matter is a domestic quarrel. The farmers of the district have, taken an unsocial view in refusing to meet their hospital maintenance obligations but will be the first to squeal if the hospital is unable to carry on," said the Postmaster-General (Hon. P. CWebb) at Kaitaia on December 11, after hearing a deputation from the Mangonui County Council concerning the difficulties which have arisen, resulting from the Government's diversion of roads and bridges subsidies to the Mangonui Hospital Board, consequent upon the council's refusal to strike the 1944/43 hospital rate. The. deputation was introduced by Mr S. W. Smithy M.P. for Bay of Islands.

The chairman of the county council (Mr C. J. E. Barriball), said that resulting from the subsidy diversion, the council was almost at the end of its financial tether. No compensation had been received for damage to county roads through army traffic and having spent its own moneys on subsidised works ? the council has now been deprived of Government contributions. Mr Barriball requested that the Minister endeavour to ascertain the Government policy in the matter.

The chairman of the Mangonui Hospital Board (Mr J. W. Hoskin), who is also a councillor, stated that the board had acceded to tlie Government's suggestion for subsidy diversion to enable the hospital to carry on. The subsidies had not yet been paid and unless the board received Government sanction for an additional £1000 overdraft it. Avas possible that the hospital would have to be closed.

"The Health Department's, contribution of 9/- per day wi;l not pay maintenance" Mr Hoskin added.

The Minister said that lie would see that all possible was done to keep the hospital open, but added that in his own opinion, tfie county council had been at fault.

Crs F. Holder and W. J. Bell explained that the council's refusal to strike a rate covering the hospital contribution had been made on the pressure of ratepayers, including Farmers' Union members.

He considered the county council's action unjustifiable, said Mr Webb. If: had taken the law into its own hands and the results could well be reflected in the wellbeing eff the people of the district. He did. not think that the • Government would take a lenient, view of the council's action adding that if tlie hospital system broke down it would be the people's own responsibility. He undertook, however t to lay the position before the Minister concerned on his return to Wellington.