TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3191, 20 September 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1881.

Tub question of the maintenance of the Hospital naturally enough came up at the meeting of the Hawke's Bay County Council yesterday. Mr Sutton, wbo in the House had put the question to the { Government, informed the Council that the principal hospitals in the colony were mainly supported out of colonial revenue. He also stated that, on the withdrawal of the subsidies, the Corporation of Wellington had intimated to the Government its inability any longer to maintain the hospital in that city, and that, consequently, the Government had had to do so. From all of which it may be implied that it is Mr Sutton's belief that if the local governing bodies ceased to contiibute towards the maintenance of their local hospitals, the General Government would be compelled to relieve them of that duty. T/e use the word " duty " advisedly ; because we hold, as he rloes, to theopinion that it isthe duty of local bodies to support their local charitable institutions. Perhaps nothing could better illustrate the unsatisfactory condition in which local governing bodies are situated than in the fact that their greatest champion in this district would, apparently, get them to cast their burdens on the central government. For need we be in the least surprised that Mr Sutton should desire in that way to ease the strain upon local revenues. No one knows better than Mr Sutton that, situated as County and Borough Councils are at present, it is almost impossible for them to efficiently carry out their functions. To this borough the stoppage of the subsidies means the cessation of all public works not provided for by loan ;it means that on the exhaustion of the loan, the revenue will not suffice to keep the streets in decent repair, and pay present salaries. In what way the hospital is to get a share of the borough funds has not yet been considered, for the reason that as long as any of the loan lasts not much thought seems to have been given to ways and means when the last penny of borrowed money is spent. V/hen, however, the time arrives for the payment of another contribution to the hospital the question will no doubt arise as to whether it is honest to be generous before being just. In the event of the borough coming to the conclusion that it can no longer afford to support the hospital, it will devolve upon the counties, from whence come the majority of the patiente, to say what steps shall be taken to support this and other charitable local institutions. Can those counties make up the deficiency caused by the impecuniosity of the borough ? We think not. In such case we would ask Mr Sutton in what way does be propose to put local governing bodies on a footing that they can discharge their duties ? Major Atkinson's proposals did not meet the difficulty even half way, yet Mr Sutton supported them, perhaps, on the principle of half a loaf being better than no bread, but half a loaf is not sufficient. For two cessions running the Government have introduced bills in the House to provide tor hospitals and charitable institutions, and each session those measures have been withdrawn. Probably if Mr Sutton, and those other members who think with him, had not expressed their sense of satisfaction with existing affaire, the Government would have been forced to have taken the queetion up and dealt with it in a thoroughly comprehensive manner. But it wa9 owing to the support, no doubt, which the Government received from such as Mr Sutton—of men having had a large share in the administration of local institutions—that created the belief that the question was of no pressing urgency. The result has been that, year after year, it has been put on one side ; and, while local governing bodies have been deprived of the means they were started with for the performance of the duties entrusted to them, those same duties remain to be performed. Aβ with the old provinces so it is with the counties and boroughs; started into existence with ample means to carry out their functions, those means have been gradually withdrawn, till at length the accusation is made that they are unable to do that for which they were created. That was the charge that was brought against the provinces, and that was the excuse for their abolition; the same charge is now made against the counties, and with far more reason, because, as a rule, they squander their revenues in the payment of salaries to hoets of officials. In spite of Mr Sutton's satisfaction with " local government," it is clear enough that nothing can be more unsatisfactory, and that the time is not far distant when the question will present itself in the strongest possible light to the electors.