WAIKARI HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16253, 2 July 1918, Page 4

WAIKARI HOSPITAL.

OBJECTIONS TO SITE. The question of the erection of a new hospital at Waikari was thp subject of a considerable discussion at the meeting of the Waipara County Council on Saturday last, when Mr 11. Evans presided. A letter was received from the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, to the effect that the Board was negotiating for a section at Waikari for the hospital. In reference to the proposed hospital a deputation, consisting of about a dozen ratepayers attended is a protest against building the hospital at "Waikari, and the manner in which the Council had gone about the matter. Messrs Lochhead, W. Leech, ad C. McLelland expressed the views of the ratepayers in their locality, the substance of their remarks being that they did not want the hospital, and that the Council had not conducted the business in a proper manner. Mr Geo. Gardiner also Bpoke in a similar strain. The chairman, in reply, outlined the course the Council had taken. At the January meeting, he said, it was decided to call a public meeting of the ratepayers to discuss the scheme. This was done, a meeting being held on February 12th. This was a representative meeting, and only three voted against the proposal. At the Council held on February 23rd, a petition signed by fourteen ratepayers in the vicinity of Scargill was received asking the Council to postpqne hospital matters until they had attended to the roads, but the Council, in face of the opinion expressed at the public meeting, decided to go on with tne scheme. At the March meeting every councillor was present, the minutes of the February meeting were confirmed, and thjo outward, correspondence approved. At the April meeting Cr. Campbell moved that further meetings be held' to" give the ratepayers another chance of discussing the matter. These meetings were held, and a majority of two was recorded against the hospital. At the meeting on June" Ist, the result of these meetings was considered. Cr. Mcßae produced two. lengthy petitions in favour of the hospital, one signed by ratepayers, and the other by residents. The Council then decided to endorse its action of February 23rd, and proceed with the proposal. At this stage the chairman asked the meeting if they could show him if anything had been withheld from the public, and in what manner he had acted unfairly. The Council had carried through the whole proceedings in what they considered tlie best interests oT the county as a whole, and also in a thoroughly constitutional manner. Mi Lochhead said that the Council should submit the question to a referendum, or else resign in a body. The chairman stated that as far as he was concerned he was willing to resign and stand against any man pre-; sent for his riding. The other members of the Council could speak for themselves. Cr. Campbell then moved the following resolutions, which were seconded by Cr. McFarlane: —(1.) "That the resolution passed at the last meeting of the Council approving of the erection of a hospital at Waikari be rescinded, on the ground that the resolution is contrary to the wishes of the majority of the ratepayers" ; (2) "That the resolution approving of the erection of a hospital at Waikari be rescinded, on the ground that the said resolution was extraordinary business within the meaning of the Counties Act, 1908, and that due notice thereof had not been given by the mover, as required by the said Act." . xx. On the motions being put to the meeting they were lost, Crs Campbell and McFarlane voting for, and the chairman and Crs. Mcßae, Doak,. and O. T. Evans against.