THE COUNTY AND THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL BOARD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 January 1915, Page 2

THE COUNTY AND THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL BOARD.

A PETITION. At the meeting on Saturday of the . Horowhenua County Council a. petition from the Tokomaru Ratepayers' Asso- , oration* was. presented! by Couincillor Venn as fol loiws: -"W-e, the Tokomaru Ratepayer's Association, hereby respectfully request your Council to refrain from paying any further sums of money belonging to this Tokomaru Riding to the Wellington Htaspital Board, as wo realise that it is these : payments that arc penalising the district ami debarring it from receiving reasonable hospital accommodation, and is pausing unnecessary pain and suffering to our sick and injured, and in some eases deaths, through their having to travel 80 miles for relief,• whereas the same is available within 10 miles, and, further, that although the said hoard realises all this, and hare from time to time passed resolutions whereby wo should have received a measure of justice, they have in consequence of these money payments, on every occasion refused l to give effect to such -resolution regardless of the -misery, sufferings, and. deaths they must know they are causing thereby." "Councillor Venn remarked - that it was the best petition that had over come before the Council. He was

pleased to see that the ratepayer* were at last taking steps in the 'mat- , tor and he hoped that the Comic'! would give effect to it. The ratepayers of the Tokomaru riding were not willing to pay any more to the Hoard. Councillor Stephenson also stated that he was,/pleased to see the ratepavers taking up the matter themselves. . Councillor Freeman said the petition would put the'other parts of the County in an awkward position. The levies would have to be paid. Councillor Cately andoi'sed Councillor . . Freeman's view that the levies would' ' have to paid. Tt seemed to* him that the Board had threatened to put in a receiver. Ho wanted to know why the levies had 'not been paid before. From.the reports in the press it appeared to' him that at the meetings of the Board in Wellington Mr B. R. Gardener was the only man who had taken the matter up in earnest, and it did not seem to him (Councillor Cately) that the Council had given Mr Gardener all the help it should have. They should- now do something to get the matter remedied by legislation. Tncidentxillv, he would like to know if it was usual to let the overdraft roach its present figure, about £5)000. The chairman said it was not usual to let the overdraft get so' large or the hospital levies go so long. A large amount of the rates had not come in as early as usual owing to the valuations not being out in time. Councillor Freeman said ho had always assisted Mr Gardener at the meetings of the Boa-rd. The. reason, they had failed was because those favouring separation were in a big minority. Councillor Monk said l that he was glad' Councillor Cately hail brought up the question as to what the Council had done in the matter. He (Councillor Monk) dKI not think that any local body could have worked harder, or more keenly for separation than (lid

the Council. They had not sent one deputation to' Wellington on the question of separation, but many. If Councillor Cat ply could bring forwarc] - &ny tangible scheme to secure fcion, they would welcome open arms. He sympathised with th-e To'feomaru petitioners. The councillors at that end of the county had worked' hard for separation. At the same time he was not in favour of the petition. They had incurred the debt and must pay it. Councillor Catelv was glad to hear Councillor Monk's statement that the Council had done all it oould in the matter. His , criticism had not lier-n given in any spirit of animosity. Wo was of opinion that vrhat had been incurred would ha*e to be paid. THer should find a legitimate way of getting away from the Wellington hospital district. Councillor Kebbell said that because

Mr B. R. Gardener was connected with the Levin Borough Council many thought that the County 'Council had not boon as active as it should) have been. The Council would have to pay or else incur legal proceedings. Councillor Broadbelt wished to know how the action of the Tokoinaru ratepayers would affect tfio County Council. Could they separate themselves in tlio matter from the Council? Cuoncillor Venn was in favour of. letting the Board take action. . All it could do was to impound the subsidy of £1500 next September, instead of . receiving £2300. Suppose the Board did sue, the Council could show up the actions of the Board and then its name' k would stink worse than the Germans'. ; The Board hadi made a promise and then thrown ■ it aside. The Council might be legally right in paying the { Tokoinaru riding's .share of the levy V against the wish of ih/> ratepayers in W . that ridfnjf, but morally it was wrong. F 'The Tokom<njjgtfßrtri(rt was determined f to join Hospital District. ;- A division was taken on the motion moved by Councillors fitephenson an! Venn tliat effect be given to the petition from the Tokomaru Ratepayers* Association to the Horowhenna County Council, and that a copy be* sent to the Wellington Hospital Board as the reafion why the levy as paid is short of the amount duo from tho Tokomaru Riding. The motion was lost by five to three. Councillors Venn, Sfephenson and Wateon voTxxl for it. and Councillors Monk, Cately , , KeT>bell,. Rctter and Broadbelt against it. Councillor Freeman did not vote. Before the meeting closed Councillor W Kebbell gave notice that at the next. ■ meeting of the Council he will move ! Wk tlic following motion: "That notice be \ given to the Wellington Hospital Board •that after the 31st March next this Council will refuse to pay any demands for hospital aid, except for hospital < treatment at so much per head.