HOSPITAL REPRESENTATION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2096, 23 January 1908, Page 4

HOSPITAL REPRESENTATION

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

A deputation waited ou tho Hon. Mr. MeNab yesterday afternoon in regard to Friendly Societies and representation on the Board of Trustees. Tho societies represented were the Independent Order of Oddfellows, American Constitution, Foresters, Druids and Hibernians. ,Thoso present were: Messrs C. F. Lewis, F. H. Lawton and H. J. H. Bendle. Mr. Lewis stated that in the d i,strict thorn between 1200 and 1500 members of Friendly Societies. There was a hospital fund which they contributed to for those who had tho misfortune to havo to make uso of the institution for attention, and their expenses were paid by the lodges, and to do that they had to levy themselves and so avoid making it a general tax upon tho ratepayers as a body. They had no representative on tho Board of Trustees as it was at present constituted, as there wore six nominees from the County Council, two from tho Borough and one to be elected by the subscribers. A person became a subscriber by paying os per annum, and all could not do this. Over £IOO a year was paid away by the various lodges to tho Hospital, to say nothing of tho amount paid to private hospitals. Payments to tho latter had been done away with by resolution and no other institution than the Hospital was recognised. Thus thoy . were doing their utmost to help it and had no yoico in tho administration of its affairs. The Minister said that this matter was not under his control. He was glad, however, to have the information, to use when the time came, Mr P’owlds would bo here shortly and this matter was iu his province, and he suggested that he be seen, Mr Carroll also would he acquainted with tho particulars of the .case. It looked a reasonable proposition to advance, and ho thought Mr. Fowlds would bo sympathetic to it. Anything that tended to popularise tho institution was desirable. MrFov'.ds would bring it before Cabinet when tho time came. The deputation thanked tho Minister and withdrew.