Wellington Hospital.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 February 1912, Page 3

Wellington Hospital.

PROPOSED REDUCTION OF

MEMBERS

The Mayor of Levin (Mr B R, Gardener), in the course of Jiis remarks at the last meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, in connection with the proposed reduction of tho representation of members, stated that from a country member's point of view no decrease should take place. He pointed out that the district extended almost fifty miles and that xwo members were none too many. If any reduction .should take place it' (should affect the city of Wellington in preference to the country. Unfortunately the country members could not obtain sufficient jurisdiction in the district. If more power were granted a great deal more revenue would come into the finances of the Board. He >also stated that he could assure the Board there was not the slightest anxiety on behalf of the Homwhonua county or the borough of Levin to continue attached to the "Wellington Board in any shape or form. For many yea re past there had been a movement on foot to alley the district with Palmers ton North. But so far it had proved unsuccessful. The Mayor proceeded to explain that the county land the borough, in accordance with their capital valuation, paid £(500 per million of valuation to the "Wellington Board. Tho counties surrounding Palmerston North, and also tho borough of Palmerston, were only paying the sum of £200 per million of valuation, which would mean a saving to the Horowhenua county and the branch of a sum of no less than £800 per annum. "When one took into consideration that tho contributions from his district totalled £1400, and which carried a Government subsidy of 20s in the pound, it could bo seen that the district was paying no less than £2300 into the Board's funds. If, as stated, they could belong to Palmerston North, it was manifest that indirectly tlie.v would only pay half that amount. Once mere he said that if they did not want representation from the country in its present form, let them give the district the relief for which it had been asking for many yeans, by letting it join tho Palmerston district, where better attention could be obtained in regard to medical treatment (as there were more doctors there) and also where the train arrangements were more suitable for the people living in the district, more particularly to the northern portion of it.