WAIHI HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4717, 27 June 1924, Page 1

WAIHI HOSPITAL.

AMALGAMATION WITH THAMES. A SOUND PROPOSAL. (By “Observer,” in the “Telegraph.”) Amalgamation .schemes in connection with public and private utilities are becoming popular. Formerly the feeling was against them, chiefly on the grounds that amalgamation meant centralisation, and that centralisation was undemocratic, and spelt dominance of the many by the few. Latterly there has been a change of view, chiefly on the grounds that expenses are lighter when interests are merged, and that experience has shown that efficiency has in nd way suffered. BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC. This is apparently the view that is taken by the advocates of merging the Waihi hospital into the Thames institution. The proposal has its opponents, but all things considered there is little doubt that the merging would do more good than harm. Our hospital has always been sadly in want of money. No benefactor has bestowed upon it a bequest that would lift it up financially, and the drain on the Borough Council is more keenly felt now than when the Council was flush of money. Our hospital district is large enough in area but too small in popiilatipn to control a local concern without a good deal of begging and without leaning with yearly increasing weight on the borough resources. GOING BACKWARDS. •In circumstances such as these it is difficult to hope for improvement, but quite easy to fear a gradual backward development. This can hardly be disputed, and although a prophet miry have no honour in his own country it is possible to predict that if the question of merging with the Thames is left to a popular vote the result will be decidedly, in favour of such merging. If the public view is gauged by the discussions and resolutions at the Borough Council meetings, which may fairly be considered as representative of the public feeling, the question has been definitely settled, and the expense of a poll might well be saved. APPREHENSIVE OPPONENTS. What appears to be troubling opponents is the matter of efficiency, for which our hospital has won an enviable reputation. But there is the word of Dr. Valintine, the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals, that the efficiency would be in no way impaired by the amalgamation. The word of so high an official must be respected, and his repeated assurance on the efficiency question should leave no doubt a,s to the conduct of the institution after amalgamation. ♦ THE COUNCIL’S RESOLUTION. With such an assurance, and with the knowledge that our burden would be lightened, the resolution of the Council desiring amalgamation with Thames is entitled to sympathy and support. It may readily be assumed that under amalgamation any money raised locally for the specific benefit of the local institution would be used in the manner prescribed, giving an impetus to the public to give, and give freely. With amalgamation the scores of urgent needs for the comfort of patients that are so often reported at the Hospital Board meetings would be fewer in number, and perhaps cease ; and if the needs were still in evidence any local collections would be ample to meet them. ’ . ,