A CONTENTIOUS MEASURE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3596, 7 October 1920, Page 5

A CONTENTIOUS MEASURE.

PROPOSED NEW HOSPITAL DISTRICT. DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. WELLINGTON October 6. % y When the House resumed at 7_30 p.m., the. Hon. Parr moved that the House go into committee on the Hos : pital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill, a measure whi chi proposed to divide the Otago Hospital district, giving a special district to South Otago. He said, the Bill represented the settled policy of the Government, the Premier and himself having gone carefully into the posi-

tion They had come to the conclusion that the demand of the people of South' Otago was warranted. The Bill violated no settled policy of the Department because several specific

instances where new hospitals were set up showed that wherever new districts were required the Department agreed to that course, and that was the position in South Otago. The policy of the Department could never be that country districts must depend on a few base hospitals in cities. Mr Sidey, who opposed the BiT, declared that the policy of the Bill was totally opposed to the poficy laid down by the Minister when recently addressing the conference ,of hospital athorities, when he maintained that base hospitals in cities must not be weakened by dissipating their pital authorities, when he maintained

There was a special reason why this * should be done, in Otag0 5 where was situated a medical schooi 1 which must suffer if a large part of the revenue of the Otago’ Board was cut off. Since the Bill was before the House last session, Otago Board had done everything possible to meet the hospital; requirements of South Otago. At 2 a.m. the debate was stiljl in progress, and there was every indication’ of a very late sitting.

WELLINGTON, This Day.

After the telegraph office closed, Mr Horn moved that the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill be committed that day... twe’ve months. - .. . ‘ v. «

Mr. Downie Stewart suggested as a compromise that the Government should withdraw the Bill and appoini a EoyaT. Commission to take evidence on t!he spot, and so determine whether or not the’ division of opinion in the House and districts concerned was justified. .

Mr Sidey contended that the appointment of a Commission would afford time, in which some arrangemeni might be made to bring the two portions of the Otago District together. He asked the Premier if some compromise was not possible.

Mi, Massey said a compromise, should have been suggested before. It w;as futile for twelve members to come in and think they could stick up the business of Parliament just because they could not get their own way.

Mr Sidey contended that the postponement of the committal stage might enable a way out to be found. If the Bill was passed, separation must follow with all its consequent bitterness and iljhfeeling. Mr Holland supported the Bill on the ground that, the miners at Kaitangata wished it to become law. Ho would vote against the amendment.

Discussion on the amendment was continued till 2.45 a.m., when on a division it wag rejected by 36 to 9. The Bill Was then put into Committee.

Mr Sidcy asked the Premier if he to force the Bill 1 through a! that sitting. The Premier said the Bill must go through the House, but he was prepared to delay its passage through the Legislative Council for two or three weeks to give the parties- in terested an opportunity of coming together in a friendly way and see if some amicable arrangement can be arrived at, so that no injustice should de done to the Medical School on one hand and the people of South Qtagp on the other, Mr Sidey said he must accept the position as he found it, as it was evident they were in a bopaPess minority in the House. Mr Statham said he was not. opposed to the Bill merely because his constituents were against it t but because it was an attempt to break up a Hospital District. He hoped this would not be the beginning of that disastrous policy Having made their protest, they were now satisfied. The Bill was then pht through Committee and read a third time and passed unamended. The House rose at 3.5 a.m.