HOSPITAL SUBSCRIPTION LIST.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1067, 1 August 1883, Page 2

HOSPITAL SUBSCRIPTION LIST.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —There is an old phrase that reads Bis dal qui cito dat —he gives twice, who gives quickly. Subscription lists to demonstrate whether people here have any real desire to retain a hospital in Patea, are now being circulated, and though the opinion has been universally expressed that it is necessary for us to retain such an institution, that indeed the community would be culpable in allowing it to be closed, yet the canvassers will have a difficulty in obtaining the names and subscriptions often of the very people who most loudly exclaim at its being allowed to collapse. . Many people’s ,idea of benevolence is that it is a virtue that every one else ought to exercise, but from which they themselves should be excused altogether, though they hardly like to say this, but will invent every imaginable excuse for doing nothing and especially giving nothing, except perhaps some impracticable advice, until the matter perishes by their default, and that of others who act like them, when they will exclaim and say it is too bad, and blame others for what they are themselves really responsible. In this Hospital matter any amount of good advice is tendered by people who will not act on the committee or really co-operato in any way. An old Quaker used to say, “ I sympathize ten pounds, how much do you sympathize?” It may bo there are so few amongst us whoso sympathy is sincere or means anything, except that they want others to pay for it, that the present appeal will fail utterly, further than in demonstrating that we have more than our fair share of hollow professors who want a reputation for liberality without possessing a trace of the thing itself. There are people claiming to be good Samaritans who would never pour out oil and wine if they have to pay for a drop of it, who yet lay the “ flattering unction to their souls ” that they are charitable. Every benevolent object will meet with obstructors of this kind whose real object is to devolve their burdens on the community, or evade them altogether if they cannot bo enforced by law, and who will yet pose and talk as if they were honorable and charitable persons. If the object is a good and right one, as this admittedly is, it is discreditable to invent reasons for evading or even postponing doing whatever is right in the matter—though, of course, it is right for persons who are in pecuniary difficulty, and who cannot pay their own obligations, to incur even the smallest additional expense: to act otherwise would not be charity, but robbery of some one else. But those who are able may well be expected to respond' at once, and by doing so they will doubly further

the objnct aimed at by lessening the work of canvassing, and affording backward and unwilling persons a good example, instead of giving them any additional excuse for discreditable evasions. If the amonnt promised is inadequate to retain the hospital amongst ns, the subscriptions will never be demanded, and so far it seems likely the institution will be allowed to expire. I even hear that some of our residents urge, as a reason for a microscopic contribution, that they never expect to go to the hospital themselves: they evidently consider that charity begins at home, and should go no further. The aid needed will probably be only for the present year, as Government is maturing some large measure for hospitals and charitable aid throughout the colony. It would be a pity to allow our Hospital to die in the meantime for want of a little co-operation and interest.— Yours, &c., Sympathy.