The Southland Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 636, 25 February 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1867.

Benevolence is an inherent duty, ariaing out of our constitution as rational and social creatures, and imposed upon us by the most powerful motives as men and brothers. The various exertions of the humane and benevolent throughout British dominions in private circles and in public institutions are so many proofs of the truth of this sentiment ; but, notwithstanding this, blots and blurs are occasionally to be found. It has been deemed the greatest badge of honor that a British community could grasp, however far distant from the home country, to cherish the benevolent instincts of our forefathers — the boast that wherever Englishmen built up a home, the fortunate were ever ready to aid their less successful or suffering fellow-creatures] Hence we find in all the colonies, except New Zealand, among the first established and most highly prized public institutions have been Hospitals, Benevolent Asylums, and kindred societies. We do not aay that those ennobling qualities have been destroyed in this colony that the ~New Zealand colonist has ceased to emulate his ancestors in good works — but we do say that they have in many instances permitted the Government, and even rendered it a necessity for them to dcrso.to undertake responsibilities that should have been the people's pride as much as it is their duty to discharge. The chief of public duties have been neglected most fragrantly both in Southland and inOtago. "We place moral; reBponribilities as high, and more sacred

than political, and these provinces have been conspicuously neglectful of them. "We hold it to be a humiliating reproach that in settlements that have been &•' tablished for years the chief of all philanthrophic institutions, Hospitals, if founded at all, have been of Government creation. These are essentially public undertaWnffs, and their planting and conduction should be the work of the people. "We do not say that in the infancy of a j province or a settlement, the Government should not aid with a liberal hand, ai] efforts that might and should be made by the public, to provide assistance for their unfortunate and afflicted brethren, but we do affirm that it is not the province of the government to inaugurate and maintain Hospitals, Benevolent Asylums, or other such like institutions. It is the bounden duty of those who have been favored with the possession of health and prosperity to take the burden of the afflicted and helpless into serious consideration. The Provincial Hospital should not be allowed to remain a Government institution. Many reasons may be advanced why it should not. The moment the people feel that the Government have taken upon itself duties which belonged to them, they become indifferent, and yet suspicious ; their benevolent instincts become deadened, and the natural propensity to grumble quickened : thus a duty is thrown upon the Government which generally it is but ill-fitted to perform, and supplies the disaffected with a topic for agitation and censure. The Southland Provincial Hospital supplies an illustration in point. The exingencies of the, Province, a few years since, rendered it imperative that an Hospital should be established ; the public did not move in the matter, so the Government supplied the want. A very creditable building has been erected, and much good has flowed from its working Still it was not a people's institution ; the mass knew but little of its operations, and consequently were disposed upon the smallest evidence to conclude that it was defective and bad. "We doubt not but that this institution might have been more economically, and perhaps more effectually managed by a public body. But has there yet been sufficient public spirit and liberality displayed to justify the G-OTern-tnent in - flinpfinff up its charge ? ¥c think not. The time however has come when the inhabitants must come forward andtake into their own hands this institution, or be content to rest under the stigma of being dead to the call of humanity, affliction, and duty. The Government invite the public to take t he managementof the Hospital into its own control, in accordance with the provisions of " An Ordinance to provide for the management of the affairs of Hospitals, &c." It offers aid as liberal as the financial state of the Province will possibly permit. Is the public willing to accept the offer? It is imperative that it should be accepted. We have heard objections raised that inasmuch as the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum have hitherto been worked by one staff of officials, that the proposed arrangement would necessitate the keeping up two establishments. Such objections j are weak in the extreme. The two establishments, though adjacent to each other — in such close proximity that one establishment is only required — are sufficiently far apart to prevent inconvenience arising from their combined working. Again, it has been advanced that the Lunatic Asylum is essentially a Government institution, and cannot legally be placed under the ; superintendence of a people's committee. This is in part true. The Government must remain the custodian of the mindbereft unfortunates but beyond this ninterference in the management need be exercised. Is this a sufficient stumbling block to deter the philantrophic from facing aduty ? Are not the insane as deserving of public sympathy and succor as any other public patients ? Would it be just or humane to drive back to the dark and dismal walls of the gaol the most to be pited of the afflicted, or to burden the Province with the expense of two establishments when experience proves that one is sufficient? We answer most emphatically, no ! The meeting held on Wednesday last, though not large, did good service, and the Provisional Committee there is little doubt will do its duty. Is the public prepared to do likewise? Money is required ; but no large amount, and one that can easily be obtained if even a semblance of the liberality which generally characterises colonists is universally displayed. We feel that it is scarcely necessary to say more than that the Hospital is a public institution, and should be managed by the public. An effort is being made to make it what it should ever have been — the people's. The funds required to accomplish this we trust will be freely given. It is a fact that cannot be disguised that the working of the Hospital hitherto has been costly to a degree, and bhat grave charges have been made as to its management that have never been

tmtisfactorly refused. The report; of the Committee of Inquiry, published in "December, 1865, clearly points out that tHfSt. working expenses of the Provincial TTospital hnve been absurdly in excess, in ■proportion to the number of patients, to that of any other similar establishment iv the colony ; and there is evidence before us that they have been materially reduced since that time. Still, it cannot be denied that the Hospital- and "Lunatic Asylum do credit to theiProvince. The buildings are for the most part substantial, and the interior well arranged. The exterior of the "Hospital, it is true, is unsightly, but it must be remembered it is in an unfinished state, that only a portion of the design has been executed, and when completed it will have a very different appearance. The site is good, the grounds extensive, and well laid out"; therefore, upon the whole the institution is one which under the immediate control of the public must become a popular and creditable monument of colonial enterprise. It is unnecessary to plead pathetically for aid ; in this case we have too much confidence in the liberality of the people of Southland to permit a doubt to arise as to the support that will be awarded to it when under popular management. What is now required is liberal proposals on the part of the Government, prompt action on the part of the Committee, and a full discharge of their duty on the part of the ' inhabitants. Let this be done and the Provincial Hospital will become of increased usefulness, and a credit to the Province.