King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1912. THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 471, 5 June 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1912. THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

The figures showing the apportionment of contribution to the Waikato Hospital Board from the various local bodies within the jurisdiction of the board arc worthy of careful perusal by King Country residents. There can be no doubt the trend of public opinion in the distirct is setting Mron-My in (ho direction of having the southern end of the present district rut oil", for the purpose of forming a now hospital district wherein each rontrinutinix body shall be in closer and more sympathetic touch with the ;11her. Hitherto the sphere of inihienec <ef the Waikato Board has rijxht.lv extended as far as possible fro;:) iis centre at Hamilton and ihe. iiesniiat is universally admitted to be one of the best, institutions in Hie Dominion. Still, tin re. is no ;;ainsayimi that Hie conditions obtaining in the Is. in;r C'onniiy ron- ( der it highly desirable tliat. the ad - j ITII HIS tnit KM I Oi the, ilusHK-« nl mii b

from a more convenient centre. With a King Country Hospital Board established there would be little danger of a conflict, of interests and the contributions <rom the various local bodies within the bound.') of the ' Robe rotrie wntild lu> trioro directly devoted to mertnif: t.ho increasing reiju ire men ( s of such a rapidly growing territory. The largo measure of progress which has attended the opening, of t.ho King Country for aottleiuenl within the past few years is remarkable. Five years ago the contribution from the King Country to the Wrukato Hospital Board was n negligible quantity, while to-day it bus risen to over fifteen hundred pounds. This contribution, moreover, is based on a valuation of £1909 and it requires little discernment to recognise that the result of next valuation will be a substantial increase in the amount. Taking Waitomo County which has an area of a million acres, and a valuation of only £842,319 it can readily be seen that an enormous bv inceaae is bound to enßue at each succeeding valuation. The same argument can be applied to each individual county, and borough in the district, and it requires little foresight to discern the outcome. A matter of striking significance is the manner in which the outback districts are advancing thei*- claims for assistance in providing medical facilities, and claims will doubtless be multiplied in the near future. Situated as it is at the tag ends of various old established districts the King Country wan naturally destined to advance on lines of its own. The district is rapidly establishing an undeniable claim for a separate individuality, and the opportunity to administer its own affairs. In the case of hospital matters, which play such an important part in the domestic economy of any district, the sooner action is taken in the direction of separate control the sooner will, general satisfaction be felt by all to*' whom the district spells home.