HOSPITAL MEETING.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1084, 10 September 1883, Page 2

HOSPITAL MEETING.

The meeting m connection with the Hospital, adjourned from the 31st nit., for the purpose of ascertaining the reply of the County Council to a request for assistance by a vote in aid of the funds, took place on Friday evening, when about twehty gentlemen were present. His Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair, and said that doubtless all present knew that the last meeting had been adjourned in order to receive an answer from the County Council to the request for assistance towards keeping the Hospital open. The Secretary would read the answer from the County Council in this matter.

The Secretary, Mr Eyton, then read the letter, which was as follows : “To the Hon. Sec. Hospital Committee.

“ Sib,— Referring to yours of the 241h July, relative to Hospital donation from the County, I beg to forward you a copy of resolution passed at yesterday’s (Wednesday) meeting— 1 That until the Government pay up the amount due to the Patea County Council on Hospital account with interest, as the money was borrowed from the Bank of New Zealand, the Council cannot see its way to vote any sura of money on Hospital account.’ ” The Chairman said that they had heard the answer, and it was for them to decide whether they would go on with the question without the assistance of the County Council. For his part he thought they would make more by charging for the County patients than they would by getting a direct vote of £SO. This £SOO which the County Council said the Government owed them was not a Certainty, and if they did not get it there were no hopes of getting anything from the " Council except by charging County patients. Considering their estimate would come out right, they would have over £3oq. This had been reduced by 25 per cent., bringing it down to about £250. Pie stiould be in favour of chancing the matter for 12 months at any rate. If they were short the first year Government might assist them by more than £ for £ till they got the thing in working order. It they decided to go on they should appoint a Committee to take the whole thing in their hands, as of course the present committee was only temporory—appointed to enquire into the matter. Mr Williams: It does not appear from the resolution that the County Council will give anything, oven supposing they do get the £SOO. It seems strange that a body like that should take such little interest in the Hospital. I think the Council have failed in their duty most seriously in this matter in not putting something on their minutes to prove that they are anxious to have the Hospital kept open. When a body like the County Council was seen neglecting their duly, they were deserving of being held up to censure. I hold the same view as the Chairman as to keeping the Hospital open, and have no doubt that the people would rally round if they saw we were in earnest. The Chairman said that if the patients from the County only averaged three in a year that would make £75, so really they would have more than if the Council had voted £SO. Mr Christie quite agreed with Mr Williams’ remarks as to the almost meanness of the County Council. He thought that notwithstanding the difficulty with the Government the Council might have safely contributed £SO. He thought it was too bad that the whole cost of maintaining tho Hospital should bo thrown upon the borough of Patoa, while the rest of tho County stood clear and said, “ We will not contribute a penny.” (Hear, hear.) He would like to ask one question : lias any effort been made to collect the amount subscribed, as he was afraid that since the County Council had refused to give anything, people also would not give ? The Chairman : The condition was that the subscriptions should be given if tho Hospital .wore to be kept open.

Mr Baldwin said that the money which had been promised had never been asked for, but he felt confident that it could be collected. Mr Christie said his reason for asking was that the amount necessary would

have to be guaranteed by Government. Would any gentlemen present bo prepared to guarantee the amount. The Chairman did not think that any one would guarantee tho amount and ho did not think it was necessary. The matter would be left in the hands of a Committee and Government would only contribute £ for £, so they would not be answerable for any debts the Committee might incur as a committee. If they appointed a committee with power to act, that committee need not, if it finds the funds inadequate, go any further in the matter. The present Committee had no such power. Mr Williams proposed, “ That the meeting proceed to elect a committee for tho management of the Hospital. The Chairman thought they should decide if they should go any further. Mr Williams said that if they did not elect a committee, of course they would not go any further. Mr Lett thought it would bo well if those present were allowed to give vent to their feelings in the matter of the County Council. No doubt they had seen his name in print, and that he had called the members of the County Council a lot of old women, and he maintained that they were old women still. It was only the other day that they allowed a man to go away without paying what he owed to the Hospital, and he (Mr Lett) had heard that this man was now at an hotel in Wellington with £BO or £9O. That was not all. With reference to Mr Nathan’s men they had lost over £2OO through the County Council. It was a common thing for men to give 6d a week towards a Hospital. They had lost that, which showed the ability of the Councillors. Now they threw cold water on the proposal to keep the Hospital open. He maintained that every one in the room should assist in passing a vote of censure on the Council. He should like to hear a few more remarks about the action of the County Council. It was a crying shame ! The motion before the meeting wanting a seconder, after a short pause Mr Christie said he would second it, with a view of giving an opportunity of saying whether the Hospital should be kept open or not. Mr Sherwood said that as he liked to be in order he had waited for the motion to be seconded with some impatience. It appeared to him that there was a desire to shirk responsibility in this matter in the sparsely attended public meetings. The County Council at some remote time had appointed a committee to inspect the Hospital and to advise the Council on what steps they should take. That the. Committee bad failed lamentably all could see. Instead of being improved outwardly, the Hospital had got worse every day. Under the able management of the Council the custodian, no matter who he might be, and the doctor, no matter who he might be, found it impossible to,, conduct the Hospital as it should have been. Under the management it was a disgrace to the West Coast. Defalcations to an enormous extent had occurred, and the committee should have insisted on an investigation. (Hear, hear). He was sure Government had cogent reasons for not paying that £SOO until the' matter had been sufficiently investigated. Reasonably enough they now said if we wanted the thing again we must have it put on a proper basis. Government did not feel disposed to let ns carryiton without a guarantee that it should be managed in a proper manner, and he did not blame them. If we allow defalcations, are we a community fit to carry on a valuable institution ? There is only one answer— We are not fit! He went on to say that he hoped that it would not be gathered from what he had said that he advocated the closing of the Hospital, as he had no such intention. He agreed with Mr Christie that the refusal of the County Council would have considerable moral effect, for which he thought they must make a very sweeping margin. He believed the fund could be supplemented in various ways which he individualised. He could safely say they could raise £4OO, but he did not think they could get more than that. He would like to ask those gentlemen competent to say, whether that would be sufficient to carry on the institution for a year. If it were sufficient he would say : let us support the Committee and back them up, but it not, let us say we are not able to carry it on. (Applause).

Mr Williams here withdrew his resolution for a while in order that one proposed by the Chairman and which read as follows might come before the meeting: “That this meeting is of opinion that sufficient support has been promised to warrant the Patea Hospital being kept open under new management.” The mover did not suppose after the ventilation the matter had already received that it required any fresh argument. They ought to be able to keep the Hospital open for the first year. For the first six months or so there might be only one patient, perhaps not one. Those incurables would be a great blessing when they were cleared out, (laughter).

Mr Williams seconded the resolution. He for one thought there was sufficient inducement for the Committee to open the Hospital for one year. He believed the venture would succeed, and he thought it would be a disgrace if they allowed the thing to fall through. . It seemed to Mr Sherwood that to pass the resolution was making a statement that they had enough money in hand. He thought the first resolution (Mr Williams’) inferred enough. He thought this was a superfluous resolution, and that it would tell against the Collector when he went round. Mr Williams : Perhaps Mr Sherwood would amend the resolution. Mr Byton moved that the words “ may be expected ” be substituted for “has been promised.” Mr Sherwood agreed to this, and the amendment was accordingly made. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Williams’ resolution was also carried.

Mr Sherwood osk°d the secretary to road thn names of the provisional committee, which was done.

Mr Sherwood then moved, “ That a committee of five bo appointed to carry out the management of the Hospital, three to form a quorum.” Mr Williams seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. To expedite business Mr Sherwood moved that four of the original names bo placed on the list of the new committee, viz., Messrs R. A. Adams, T. Illy ton, W. Williams and S. Taplih, leaving one blank. Mr Deane proposed Mr Sherwood (applause.) Mr Sherwood declined, as ho would not have time to attend to the business properly, and ho believed in doing a thing properly if he did it at all,

The Chairman would like to substitute Mr Cowern’s name for his. (Dissent). He knew Mr Cowern would act, and he thought he, being Mayor and having so many things to attend to, should be excused.

One gentleman said that it was intended that the Mayor and the Chairman of the County Council should be ex officio members, but some present demurred at the County Council having any voice in the matter.

Messrs Christie and Brown were then proposed, and the list read as follows : Messrs Cowern, Christie, William 0 , Adams, and Brown. The Chairman thought they ought to excuse him.

Mr Deane proposed that Mr Adams’ name be eliminated and that of the Mayor substituted, (laughter). A suggestion as to ladies being on the committee was not approved of, but it was deemed advisable to make arrangements for a visiting committee of ladies. The meeting then adjourned after hearty votes of thanks had been passed to Mr Eyton for acting as honorary secretary, and to the Mayor for presiding at the meeting and his attention given to the subject throughout.