HOROWHENUA HOSPITAL LEVY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2461, 14 May 1915, Page 3

HOROWHENUA HOSPITAL LEVY

REFUSAL TO PAY. A long letter from the chairman of the Horowhenua County Council was received at tho meeting of tho Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday. The letter stated that as the late board considered it a foolish and unjustifiable proceeding on the part of the council to refuse! to pay any further levies, the chairman was directed to draw tho present beard's attention to the enclosed copv of a petition received by the council some months ago from ratepayers in t'he northern portion of the county, and to point out the efforts that had been made in tho past to obtain relief. Tho Public Hospital at Palmerston North being barred to them, many of their wnge-earnefs were distressing themselves_ in paying for treatment in private institution at Palmerston North from £20 to £50 for the doctor, and £4 to £5 weekly for hospital treatment Tather than send their children, wives or near relatives 80 miles to Wellington. It was pomtcd out that upon at least two occasions the boards had realised the injustice of the position, and had passed resolutions agreeing to let tho county go on certain terms, but as soon as arrangements had been made the request had been refused. They trusted tho new board would realise the iustice of reconsidering the late board's resolutions. Tl le first that no objection would be made to'their two northern ridings joining the Palmerston district, and another later to tho same effort with regard to the whole county. They trusted that the hoard would realise that the country had exhausted evcrv Icm I means, and that their resolution to discontinue paving the late board any further sums'was simnly carrying out their ratepayers' wishes; and with the object of bringing their position prominently before the board.

As the petition mentioned in the lettor was not received, the letter was "««"■ tA aUniv it, to pome to