THE HOSPITAL QUESTION.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 70, 12 June 1878, Page 3

THE HOSPITAL QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOB. ' Srß,— Your report of last meeting, of the County Council, shows that a matter of the greatest importance was under consideration, viz., trie County support of an hospital. The Eangitikei settlers having an hospital situated at the boundry of the Manawatu County, the committee, managing the hospital, looks to' the Manawatu County for support to their institution. When Or. Snelson points out that there is an hospital at Palmerston, a free gift to the Borough, which he considered far preferable to Bulls, being on the railway line, and urged m favorof its position, "that there|were twO medical men m Palmerston, and that a third was about,to settle there." If this were true it might be an indication of Palmerston, being utterly unsuited for an hospital, as a more healthy position would be preferable, a position that would furnish less employment for doctors, but as the lives of poor persons are. being involved m this question of an hospital, I would ask Mr Snelson if he was not mistaken when he asserted "that there were two medical man m Palmerston, at present." I ask this question because I hear, on what I consider good authority, that there is no medical men at all m Palmerston, at present, and that neither of the gentlemen practising at present as medical men m Palmerston could be permitted to attend patients m an hospital assisted out of public money. The question being an important one, I trust that, when the question of subsidising the Palmerston Hospital comes again before the County Council/ that the Mayor, will be prepared either to withdraw the statement he made, or show what qualification he considers necessary for allowing a medical practitioner to attend patients m a Borough and County Hospital; It is only the importance of this matter as. affecting the lives of poor persons that induces me to write to you at all on the subject. — lam, &o.', A Settieb.