CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1922, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE .

REPLY TO MR RITCHIE. (To the Editor). Sir, —In reply to Mr Ritchie’s letter of 7th Jan., unlike that gentleman I am not averse to ventilating public matters per tlie press. I was much amused at Mr Ritchie’s quotation of figures, especially in relation to receipts and expenditure. He-states also in referring to small amounts received such as 1921, £8 8s (id, “the receipts show the nurse’s operations in the district.” Now, I would ask Mr Ritchie to show his hand. Is he inferring ’that the nurse is not doing her host in the interests of the Board or has he a personal grievance against the district nurse? . Would Mr Ritchie move at next meeting of the Board to publish month by month the earnings of the niirse by way of fees from patients (which sums are collected by the Board on the nurse’s certificate of liability)-since the present nurse lias been in South Westland. I think th.e sum will be found to very much exoed the insignificant amount of £8 8s fid, and while I am ou this subject let me inform Alt- Ritchie that the District nurse is doing her duty, and doing it worthy of a pioneer. As Mr Ritchie well knows it is no light task for a woman to surmount the difficulties of the o 0 .mile ride f’oni Maliitahi to ORuru in bad weather «r fine and the present nurse has done it many linies and at the time of writing she is absent at Okuru.

?>!,- Ritchie gees on to sav the Board has not received one penny from the settlers by way of contribution*. Was it over intimated to the latter they would be belli respoVi's'i’ble for any amounts towards the : : '?l->ry rf the district horse. Perhaps Ur Ritchie forgeVs until icechtfy be Was a settler in SiVut'b Westland, and ‘did lie contribute ahy mote dr less thn« tils present Settlers.

As for tlie Board’s receipts from the nursing district, what about that extra three farthings in the pound capital value which .is practically An additional Charitable Aid rate aAd the South Westland nursing, districts levy on rates for their portion is somewhere in the Vicinity of £1,01)0 per annum. Trite we have that fine institution the Westland .Hospital and ’ti,s also true that south settlers requiring the services of that hospital have-to pay for it at tlie BoaVd’s fees and it would perhaps be found (if. the matter Were looked into) that very little, 'if any, of that £14,000 marked off the hoard’s books as unrecoverable could be placed

nyja'inst .tite credit of the settlers of the South Westland nursing district. Mr Ritchie suy'S “in the light; of recent events” lie <v tints confirmation of my statement that the Waiho Committee lias the support of .almost if not all, of the sphseribers. '*•» v. ith!voiding the funds. Now 1 fail to understand what he .mek/ss by “recent events” but the committee have certainly not been asked by subscribers to send forward the an.omit collected. On the contrary

some of the latter have intimated that “if the funds were forwarded to the Board without a fixed promise to go on with the building, there would be trouble.”

Now wiiat caused this distrustful at

tirade? Simply this, the Bofird in tlie first place asked the settlers to find £20l). They did so.. :ui 1 then the

Board about a year ago, intimated at a meeting they must have a fm.ther £2(16 and in tlie press report of that meeting Mr 'Ritchie is reported as stating “The settlors have collected £2OO arid a further £2OO 1 would be forthcoming.” As to M,r Ritchie’s remarks regarding members of our committee who at their own time and expense collected funds, il would he inure credit to that “gjeh't” to maintain the dignity 01 the position lie holds' and reserve his roma'rks tor t'hrise who appreciate them. 1 I cOhld white inrich tritire on tins matter Mr Editor, hut. I alii afraid I have already transgressed too far on. your Valrial/lC cP'ltimris. Tliankflig Vob in anticipation, I am etc., < L. R. GIBB.

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