CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1922, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

Y.M.C.A. WALKING PARTY. (To the Editor). Sir, —In thanking the good people of Westland for the hospitality experienced by our Y.M.C.A. Walking Party we feel at a loss to adequately express our appreciation. We had often heard of “West Coast hospitality.” Now we know its meaiiiiig. This rare- quality, combined with the wonderful scenery of mountain and forest, river and lake makes Westland a delightful place to visit. Wb are already keeii to go again and for our friends to go also. Next summer our objective will probably be the Fninz Josef Glacier. We are sincere when we state that the atmosphere of friendliness calls to us as much as the scenery. AVill you, Sir, extend us the further courtesy of passing oil our thanks to all who entertained us collectively and individually? We shall never forget that delightful hour as guests of the Progress League for luncheon after arrival at Hokitika. It was an education and an inspiration to hear your sterling citizens speak of the past, present, and future of Westland. We equally appreciated their visit to our camp and their further talks. The assistance of the Acclimatisation Society appealed to us greatly, and also the gracious hospitality of the Caledonian Society. May we also thank Mr and Mrs Cunningham, of Tnipo River, for providing ft light luncheon as we passed through; to those who provided sleeping quarters at Jacksons, Aiekeiis, and Kuniara Town Hall; the Acclimatisation Society and Dr Teichelmahn for the use of buildings at Lake Kanieri; and the good friends who facilitated our transport to the Lake. To one and all “We oan no other answer make but thanks, and thanks.” On behalf of fifty firm friends of Westland,

I am etc., R, A. KENNER, General Secretary Y.M.C.A., '• Christchurch. THE WAlllO COMMITTEE AND THE WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD (To the Editor). Sir. —In your issue of Dec. 29th., a letter signed L. R. Gibb, appears, asking mo to justify statements I hail made at the last Hospital Boaid meeting regarding the Waiho Committee’s attitude towards the Hospital Board. As I depreciate discussing public business in the columns of a newspaper, t was first inclined to refer Mr Gibb to Mr T. W. Bruce, the Board’s secretary, but subsequently I decided! to give Mr Gibb the information he asked for direct. ’

Now to be as brief as possible I cannot do better than quote from correspondence that passed from the Board to the Waiho Committee by the Board’s secretary Mr Bruce, and through that gentleman’s courtesy T am enabled to give the financial position as it stands at present viz all expenditure and receipts in connection with the South Westland Medical district up to December 31st, 1921. As the whole- of the correspondence would occupy too much space T will merely quote certain paragraphs from the Board’s secretary to the Waiho Committee, touching on the points at issue. On May 26th,-1920 Mr Bruce , wrote to Mr Schilling as follows“ Dear Sir, Your letter was fully considered , by my Board at its meeting last night after prolonged discussion, the 101 l owing resolutions were curried : That the Board will rent cottage off Charles Donovan ah a cost of £1 per week as requested in your letter, only on the condition, that the local commit* toe provide one third of the cost of fur niture estimated at £l4O. the Board paying the rent of the cottage. Tn the event of your contribution towards this condition and on receipt of your contribution towards it, the Chairman o the Board and: the Chairman of the House Committee are empowered to purchase the furniture. Re transfer of Searle’s section to the Board. This will he carried out, m accordance with the promise of the Board when the settlers in the South Westland district carry out their contract by paying £2OO voluntary contribution into the funds of the Board. From the foregoing correspondence it will ho seen that the Waiho Committee could be under no misapprehension regarding their obligations to the Board and the following expenditure and receipts from the Board’s funds for the South Westland Medical district will show how these obligations have been discharged by the Waiho Committee. Expenditure Receipts. Year 1919 220 4 10 1 24 19 0 Year 1920 233 2 10 13 1 6 Year 1921 316 14 U 8 8 6 (9 months). (9 months).

Capital expenditure to date, cost of j furniture etc £176 13s lid. The re- l coipts show the nurses operations in j her district during the period, and the j sum total shows that during the, last j three years, the Westland Bonfrd has j expended the large sum of £990 7s 2d. I Now what amount has thd Board re- j ceived by way of voluntary contribu- j tions from South Westland district-not one penny. ! If the Waiho Committee had acted j wisely and sent the £2OO collected from the settlers, which sum Mr Gibb admits they have in their possession since September 1920. and with the Government subsidy this would carry as things stand at present, a year and a quaTtejrs’ interest which is lofft to Board on a total of £440 iriiieh sum would have strengthened the South Westland capital expenditure account in the Board’s Books, and would have helped the Hospital Board to overcome the present stringency of Finance. With regard to Mr Gibb’s remark that two members of the Wailro Committee succeeded to collect voluntary contributions in the Bruce Bay district where a local resident failed, I have only to say that it’s a pity these gents do not go out collecting oftener as their magic influence among the settlers would he of great help to the medical district. If the South Westland settlers acted through their Waiho Committee in the same- 00-operative spirit as other medical districts' under the Board, much heart burnings could he avoided. In the concluding part of Mr Gibb’s letter he says the Waiho Committee refuse to hand over to the Hospital Board the £2OO held in trust until the Board make a start with tlie building in ear-

nest, and in this they have the support of almost if not all of the subscribers. Now .in the light of recerit events, I will ask Mr Gibb to give the' Hospital Board a confirmation of this statement? If he does it will certainly remove much of the 'blame from the Committee that at present exists. I will now say in conclusion that I hope I have fully justified the position I took up at the Board’s meeting of unfair treatment by the Waiho Committee; if not, I must ask Mr Gibb to communicate with Mr T. W. Bruce, the Board’s secretary, who I am sure will be only too pleased to give him any further information he may re quire. Apologising for occupying so much of your valuable space and thanking you in afitiepation.—l am etc., J. RITCHIE, Park St, January' 6th., 1922.