HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 August 1917, Page 4

HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

LIFE AND DEATH QUESTION. —k To the Editor. , Sir, —Your leading article a day or two ago should show the people this district that all is not as it should be in regard to our position with the Wanganui Hospital Hoard I strongly believe that this district should be severed from Wanganui, and I will give a tew reasons that strik--. me as being conclusive. The Wan ganui Hospital is supported by contributions from Wanganui and from the countries of Waitotara, Eangitikei and Waimarino, and from ah :he be roughs, road boards and townships therein. The nospital board is con stituted ,of representatives from all contributing bodies, on an absolutely unfair basis. Waitotara County,, which contributes as much money as Wanganui, only has two representatives. Rangitikei County contributes as much as all other bodies combined,, Wanganui included, and yet Wanganui has six representatives and Rangitikei only four on the Board. M anganui, with this grossly unfair representation, can levy on' the laree contributing bodies what it likes, iml can spend the money in Wanganui,? utterly disregarding the extreme needs of other closely settled districts. Consequently, the annual demands are increasing by leaps and bounds, and will further next year, and on into the future, as there is not nearly, sufficient accommodation now, and large sums of money will ba required for building additions.

For these new buildings the hospital has recourse to on ly one methods that is by increasing the amount collected from contributing bodies, and. if the ever-increasing wear and tearon roads is to be provided for, thesecontributing bodies will need to increase the rates collected from ratepayers. These large sums demanded by the hospital board have to come out of rates collected for maintenance of roads. It is impossible rogo on finding more and more for new hospital buildings in Wanganui, and keep roads in order. Contributing bodies are up against a rather awkward hurdle, and they will have t(fc look for what is on the, other side.

The position is acute; money' is wanted; but it is time that the h.ospital got it for new buildings as we have to get it for metalling roads, Installing lighting services and age, that is by borrowing. Counties, • boroughs and townships are very seriously hampered by making such large levies on their rates. Hospital Boards have • asked for borrowing powers, and if these are given they will bring relief to contributing bodies from having to find money for new buildings in Wanganui. If Rangitikei County alone was granted power to borrow for hospital extension in their boundary, there would be a very considerable saving on the' £3OOO we paid last year to Wanganui. The lower end of Rangitikei is. well served by the fine hospital at Wanganui, but not so the Upper Rangitikei. Upper Wangaehu and the Waimarino County. The Taihape hospital may or may not accommodate one tenth of the patients from these large and very rapidly growing districts, the rest have to be dragged on about another 100 miles to already much overcrowded Wanganui hospital. More accommodationmust be found and the Hospital Board’s levies go up, and will keepon going up too. There is only one saving way for the immense close settled districts of Rangitikei, Wangaehu, Waimarino, and the boroughs and towms therein, and that Isto cut away from Wanganui altogether. The Wanganui Board has recommended that if ibis is to be done, it should be done now. before more new buildings are put up. Ample and most convenient hospital accommodation can be provided for the boroughs, towns, and districts that cannot be well served by Wanganui at an immense saving in ratesi —- Yours, etc., H. O’CALLAGHAN.