THE COUNTY AND THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 16 February 1915, Page 2

THE COUNTY AND THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

4 NOTICE TO CEASE PAYMENT OF LEVY. At tho meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday the notice of motion given by Councillor Kebbell at the last meeting, "That notice be given to the Wellington Hospital Board that after the 31st March nexttins Ooumcil will refuse to pay any demands for hospital aid. except for hospital treatment and so much per head" gave rise to a short discussion.

Councillor Monk said he did not think it of any use in frying to defy the Act. The motion would not solve the difficulty. The levy was made by act of Parliament. He opposed +he motion. Councillor Stophenson said That ho supported it as a means of protest. Councillor Venn said that he would support it. They had tried all legitimate means to get justice and had been promised it. but when it came to the point had been thrown over. Ho did not think the motion would get them out of the difficulty but it would not get them into it any further. He would support the resolution or any other resolution as they were suffering an injustice..

Councillor Cately saw no use in passing the motion they would have to pay it. The proper method was to take Parliamentary action. He could not support the motion.

Councillor Broadbelt said that they would get a bill passed through Parliament. He saw no nee 01 supporting the motio».

Councillor Freeman saw no use passing the motion.

Councillor Refcter said that the motion would be the means of bringing the matter before Parliament and would probably get support for it.

■Councillor Kebbell said that they should get a bill passed through Parliament. He saw no use in supporting form a separate board. He did not see that the motion would do any harm.

On a division being taken the motion was carried by five to four. Councillors Kebbell, Itotter. Watson. Venn and Stephenson voted for it and CouneiUors Broadbelt, Freeman, Cately and Monk against.

On the motion of Councillor Kebbell it was further decided to forward <i copy of the resolution to the Minister of Health, the Levin Borough Council and the Otaki Town Board. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE THE BOROUGH COUNCIL. in accordance with the direction jf the County Council the above resolution was forwarded to the Levin Borough Council, and came before the latter body at its meeting last night for consideration. The Mayor, in opd|tfing the discussion, said that he did not think the Borough Council would endorse it. It was not the place of a local body to pass a motion directly in conflict with an act of Parliament. The Wellington Hospital Board in making the levies ivas only making a legal demand, and "n accordance with the Act, and a refusal om the part of n local body to obey it, until another system of making such levies was brought into force, was not very dignified. Suppose a ratepayer took exception to the way n which the rates were levied, and refused to pay his rates. An act of Parliament cannot bo altered by a local body, but must be altered by Parliament itself. The resolution was not the best way to go about having the act altered, not , would it encourage Government to remedy the matter. It was true that the Hospital-GoneraT had agreed to n separate hospital district, and this had been refused by the Hospital Board and the proper course now wae to place the matter before the Hos-pitnl-General nnd ask him what he was going to do about it. The "Wellington Hospital Board ihad a legal way o? meeting the refusal to pny the levy, and could, in addition to seizing the subsidy, put in a receiver if necessary. The Board cnuld enforce its rights just as well as a private individual. He hoped the Borough Council would not endorse what was practically an illo<i;;il action. Ho moved that this Council regrets that it cannot endorse the resolution, and suggests that n further effort be made for severance.

Councillor Lancaster seconded thJ motion.

Councillor France considered that the resolution was an honest attempt on the part of the. County Council to solve the difficulty, and it would not look well if the Borough Council failed to support it. Tf they did not act together they had small chance of getting what was wanted. As for the Mayor's argument re an objecting ratepayer, if the ratepayers objected together they would have weight enough to alter things pretty quickly. If the proposed action was illegal they would advertise their cause and draw public attention to it. If when fighting, the more row they kicked up, the better chance they had of succeeding. Tie was not a prophet, and could not say what the outcome would be. but they could not possibly be any worse off than they were at present.

Councillor Prouse suggested that '. be left to the new council (laughter).

The Mayor could not see the- use of the resolution. The only result would be that instead of waiting twelve month* for the money the Board would collect it every three months.

Councillor Parker said that tho motion seemed to go beyond what it should have, but he was quite in •ympathy with the spirit of it. Tho intention seemed to be to draw public attention to the matter as nothing had come of years of agitation, and he could not wonder at the County Council going to extremes. They should help tho County Council as much as possible. The Mayor repeated that before going further in the direction indicated hy the County Council's resolution they should see the Hospital-General. Councillor Mackenzie said that until all mean* had been exhausted such a resolution should not he passod. The end should be attained in a constitutional way. He agreed with the spirit of the County Council's resolution, hut would be sorry to sec it endorsed by the Borough Council. Councillor Matheson thought it best to .see the Tlospital-Gonoral first. Councillor Prouse considered that they should pay under protest.

Councillor Bleukhorn said that to endorse the County Council's resolution would be to get the town into trouble in which it would only get the worst of it. He would like to support it, but to do so would stutify -be Council. Council Dempsey said that the resolution only gave notice of an intention ; if threatened they could retreat. He could not, however, support it. The Mayor, in conclusion, eaid that ho did not think the County Council had gone into the matter properly. No such resolution should he sent to the Hospital Board, which was only carrying out a duty placed on it by an act of Parliament. The resolution would not have the slightest effect wn the Board. The motion moved by the .Mayor carried.