THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 19 May 1920, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1920. EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Otaki Hospital. A leading article appearing ;n yesterday's isaue of the Foston •'Herald." which we reprint el.-e----where, is interesting. as showing the opinions held by some member.' oi trie Palaierstoa North Hospital Board (toe editor of the "Herald" ia a proa inent member of the Boa-rc) with regard to the local hospital, and their £..;.'• J :or education on this question, ffe would like to enlighten the "Herald" on a few points". In the first place, th* Otaki Hospital is not a "cottage" hospital. When first opened, some twenty years ago, it was a cottage hospital, with provision for half-dozen beds, but many years ag-j the building was much enlarged, and nor,- has accommodation for eighteen patients. Tien the "Herald" say.- the Department oTFublic Health "now desires to throw the whoie responsibility for maintenance oi the institution on ihfi Palmers-ton Board, which the latter do not feel justified in accepting." In /sepiemer, 1918, when mating arrangemcts with the Department of Public Health, ihs MmeKton Sorth Board passed this resolution; "That this Board agrees U> the Heaira Department taking over the Otaki'Hospital institutions, on the understanding cast the

consumptive portion becomes - uuvensment institution entirely, and the XOt : tage hospital at the end or the war. or, i'-iu-n the Government -o desire?., be again taken oyer by the Pnlnierstoo North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.-" Thi? was a clear understanding, and now that the Department wishes the hospital to revert to the management of the B-.-ard. the latter :- in duty bound to take over the responsibility. We cannot see any reason in the argument that if the Hospital Board "compromised itself in this. matter it could not refuse the setting up of similar iastitationj at Feilding, Levin aid Fdjjaa." Tcsie it ns

antilogy in the cases quoted. The Pulnierston Board tuok over a fullyequipped hospital, which had been in perfect working order for many years,, and the district concerned distinctly understood that the hospital was to be maintained. That understanding the Board must respect, and this district — and the Government too, we believe — will insist upon being observed. The advisability of setting up other small hospitals is quite another matter altogether, and any such • application should be considered on its merits. Our answer to the "Herald's" uncalled-for and discourteous reference to our "make-shift institution" lies'in the fact that for the past three years 565 patients were treated at the hospital, while for the year ended March ;!ist hist 196" patients were treated and

US operations were performed. These 196 patients came front the following localities: —Levin. 25; Manakau, l'J; Otaki, 73; Waihoanga, 0; Te Horo,-ll; Waikanae and Rikiorangi, 32; Paraparauinu and Paekakariki, IS; outside the district, 12. We would ask the "Herald" and the members of the • Palmerston North Hospital Board, is a hospital serving the district between Levin and Paekakariki—a distance of u'i miles—and treating successfully nearly two hundred paticnls per annum, a "make-shift," or an institution that is "not wanted".' The residents of this district have no quarrel with (lie Hospital Board tn its intention to make (If Palmerston North Hospital "one of th': most modern and bestequipped in the Dominion," but, at the sain.- time, the great majority of local I cases .an be treated every bit as well | at the Otaki Hospital as in Palmer: ton. I and naturally district; residents will | insist on sending their patients to the nearer centre, provided they get. satis-

faction, as (hey always have done in the past. It is a great, pity that the editor of the Foxton paper, like the Chairman and certain other member i.f the Palmerston North Hospital Hoard, did not lake the trouble to ascertain the fads of a case life tin before making public niis-Htatemen* ■ ibat are :t libel ur hospital, the reputation of which, we claim, will stand comparison with that of any similar institution in the Dominion. Light Lino Railways. . New Zealand, with its scattered districts and broken country, is a difficult country to provide with railway facili

tics. Jinny comparatively small districts are so situated that lo construct a wide-gauge railway would entail an

enormous cost, quite oat. of the question, but in many cases light lines. which can be put down at a fraction of the cost, would prove an inestimable boon, and help the district and the Dominion as a whole very considerably. Some- of our politicians have for years urged the Government to adopt a progressive policy in this direction, but without, much success. The Government has preferred to adhere to the regular lines. Such poor progress has been made in this direction, however. that people are fired of waiting for the corning of the ordinary trail) service. and. in order to meet the needs of the country, persistent agitation i< being made in various districts for (he construction of light lines. Thi* movemen) i- rapidly spreading throughout the South Auckland district. tongues -ue now being formed to farther light

line projects from Franklon to Ivawhia and Raglan, Pirongia to Tc Awamutu, and Matnmuta to Tauranga, while recent !y :• meeting to discuss a proposal to establish an agricultural railway from Morrinsvillc to Tahunn. through Marigatcpnru, was held, when :•. light railway league was formed, and a strong committee appointed to further the project, by an extension of which it i.- eventually hoped lo connect up with the steamer traffic at the Pinko River. Thc-e and other lines would serve a ■ ■ r,-- :jsi fnl purpose in feeding the liiniti railways-. It is a policy that ;,.i»l.t be adopted with advantage in :-::iav parts of the country, and we ;..,;-„■ i.„ ■:■■■: the sy-tc-m given a good tria"' in the near future.