THE HOSPITAL.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1110, 10 November 1883, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL.

Deputation to tin© County Council.

The Connty Council was wailed upon on Wednesday afternoon, by n deputation from the Hospital Committee. Mr R. A. Adams said they had heard that the Council were likely to reconsider the subsidy question, and •what they wished to impress on the Council was that by contributing a certain amount, say £SO, it would bo sufficient to pay for all the connty patients. If they did not contribute they would hare to send their patients to Wanganui and they would find that the expense would be much greater. The Borough Council contributed £SO, and was allowed to send all Borough patients into the Hospital free, and the committee were willing to allow the same privilege to the Connty Council. They had a far larger extent of country, hut if they would contribute they would have the same privilege as a small place like Patea. He thought that ns they had hail the Hospital, it was their duty to keep it open. If the Conncii gave £SO, the Hospital would have a revenue of between LSOO and L6OO, including the Gomhment grant, and the proceeds of entertainments, and he thought tlidt would bo ample, if economically managed. He concluded by saying that as the Conncii had received the Hospital money from the Government he hoped they would see their way to alter their previous decision. Chairman said they had only received half, Mr W Williams, as the other member of the deputation, endorsed whet

had been said by Mr Adams. He thought the Council would see the necessity of keeping the Hospital open,” and, although the '.deputation were only, beggars in this /case f he' would remind, the. Council that it was more blessed to give! than to receive. ; ,

Or Wilsoh asked what thc ; commitloe intended to-do about a medical man ? Mr Adams said that the matter was under consideration. They had not taken, over the Hospital yet, as there were two incurables.

Cr Wilson asked if they were going to put them in the river, but Mr Adams replied lint -they would probably be hoarded out. In reply .to flirt her queries re a medical, man it was elicited that the probable course of the .committee would be to advertise for one at n salary of £IOO, but upon this point the deputation said they were, open to receive suggestions from the Cmncil. None Were, however, forthcoming. .. Cr Wilson : Is it the intention of the committee to admit nil patients free ? Mr Adams: They will be made to pay if they can.

Gr Bridge ; Suppose the amount of the subscriptions exceed the expenditure.

Mr Adams : We estimate the cost at £SOO for the first year. If we arc in firtids at the end of that time we shall not come to the Council.

, Gr Wilson thought all hospitals should.-.he.closed and, Government made to keep the patients. They were bound to do if.

Mr Williams instanced places snch as Wellington where the whole cost of thehospital was borne by the Government/ ,It secmeil hard that, in a’ little place like Patea'lhc people should be called upon to maintain the Hospital when large and wealthy towns went free. Cr Bridge : Government probably considered the hospitals there were: of some use. They, had good staffs and clever medical -men, but in a small place like this this they thought that if we wanted a hospital we must pay for it. ;- Gr Wilson reiterated his opinion that Government should support patients, and said there was a ease in Wnverley which wbuld soon test tins matter. The deputation then retired and Cr O'Sullivan moved that the resolution passed at the September meeting, relative to the Hospital;gran.l'.bo rescinded; Or Morgan seconded.

Cr Wilson objected to the resolution. He thought it was contrary lo the law to spend any of their money on the Hospital, whatever they might have done in the past, By refusing; to rescind the resolution it would be a wedge, a small one ,he would admit, towards compelling the Goverument.to take steps to support destitute persons. Cf Bridge had an objection lo the resolution being rescinded because be thought patients would b; much better looked after in Wanganui than., in Patea. In 1878 fie moved that the Hospital be closed on account of improved communication and tjie, arguments then used applied with , double force, now. They had a railway through the county and they could put patients on the train and take them to Wanganui with as little inconvenience as possible. The Hospital Inspector’s report was not a favourable one and lie thought (hat it would be an advantage to patients themselves to be sent to ■Wanganui where they could have better attendance and better medical skill. - Chairman considered that both for the benefit of the place and the funds of the, Comity they should maintain the Hospital, Government supplied £ for £,' and the people bad generously come forward to contribute,, and he thought it was the Council’s duty to assist and vote the money. Cr Bridge had referred lo the Inspector’s, report, but that gentleman had told him (chairman) lliat they had done wonders at Paten Hospital, considering the appliances they had at command. Ho considered, that the Council had a grievance with the Government, but still it would bo more economical lo keep their patients at Patea than send thorn to Wanganui. What had been done in the past ought not to bo altogether thrown away, Cr Howie said they ought to support the Hospital, There might ho better medical skill at Wanganui but that might not always be the ease. As a body with public money to spend, ho considered that limy were quite justified in supporting* (ho hospital.

Or Wilson moved nn amendment that the rcHolti I ion bn not rescinded. vernment still orted (ho Council n considerable sum and until that was paid ho would not consent to voting o penny. Or Bridge seconded.

Or ■Foreman, was in favour of the resolution at the time it was passed, but since Government had acknowledged their liability and paid half the money ho would bo in favour of rescinding it. It showed that if the Council could show Government, clearly that the money was duo it would be paid, Cr Wilson would stand out for interest ns well. Amendment was put and lost by 5 to to 2. Resolution put and carried by similar numbers, Cr Wilson moved that £25 bo contributed. Government bad paid half, and the Council should vote half. Cr Bridge raised the question whether tbo motion could be received, as ordinary business had been disposed of. Chairman ruled that the motion was out of order. The Council could suspend- the standing orders to allow the motion to be moved. Cr Bridge did not wish to bnrko discussion and would move that the standing orders bo suspended in order to ascertain if a grant will bo voted to Patea Hospital*,, Moi j ,ion agreed to. Chairman: |fpw llien, Cr Wilson, yon can go on vfith your motion. Cr Wilson : I don’t think I will now. After a pause it was moved by C l ' Howie and seconded by Cr Dnrie (hat the Council contribute £SO for this ye«r towards the support of Patea Hospital. Cr Wilson said that by the end of the year they would have such a little money that ho thought they had better pay all

their money to (he Hospital and let the roads go. There might perhaps he £2OO or £3OO or even £SOO anil it would he better to let the Hospital have the lot. Ho should move that all the' balance at the County credit fur the current year bo p-dd over to the Hospital account.

. Gao Councillor wante 1 to know if I hey should pay over Iho debit balance as well, to which Cr Wilson replied that he wo'ild have no o'-jection. There was no seconder for Cr Wilson’s amendment, and after further discussion the resolution was amended as follows: That the Council coritiibute £SO towards the maintenance of Pate.v Hospital for one year, elating from the; time the Committee take the Hospital over, to ,ho payable quarterly. Cr Wilson ,moved an amendment, That until, Government pay up the balance due on Hospital account that the sum of £25 bo paid to.the hospital funds, in quarterly instalments, for one year, '

Cr Bridge briefly seconded-this, which on being put was declared lost. The resolution was then put and carried. The Hospital thus receives £SO for one year- from the, County; unless at some future day the resolauon- is rescinded.