AUCKLAND STAR, SEPT. 16.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 2

AUCKLAND STAR, SEPT. 16.

There is a small storm at Te Aroha over the recent action of the Domain Board in the appointment of Professor Cadman as Hydropathist and Electropathist to the Board for. six months, and the leasing of the right to advertise inside the baths to Mr Brennan ior a term of fire years at the rate of £2 a year for the first three years and £3 for the last two years. From the report of the meeting of the Board in the "Te Aroha. News," it is evident that the Board acted without due consideration in both instances. The conditions on which Professor Cad man's application was granted were submitted by himself aad stipulate that h6 shall be the only hydropathist and electropathist to the Board, and thac (he Board so advertise him ; also that lie shall have free access to the bath's with nis own patients. The, only consideration for these large concessions that we can see is that the Professor undertakes to treat the poor free of charge. Now, if the Board considered it expedient in the interests of patients visiting the baths to make an appointment of this kind, it was clearly their duty to have notified their intention publicly, and invited applications with testimonials, whereas they simply received the proposal and granted it at the same meeting ; subject, however, to the approval of the Government. The appointment seems to indicate a poor 'estimate on the Board's part of their responsibilities as administrators of some of the raosfc valuable medicinal baths in the world. By lending the weight of their name, and granting special advantages to one practitioner, they may shut out others, and perhaps prevent a medical man from establishing himself in the district. The concession given to Professor Caduian ought to be granted freely to any medical man or skilled hydropathist who chooses either to establish himself at Te Aroha or" to accompany patients there for the use of the healing waters, and * even if a resident doctor were appointed by the Government, his position ought not to give him any monopoly- Medical men everywhere should be encouraged to make use of these baths in theirpractice, and the Board are utterly wrong in giving anything like exctasire advantages _over valuable public property to any one person, and that without previous public notification,^ The manner in which the right to advertise was conceded is also another sample on the way in which such boards' are swayed by petty local influences. If it were desirable to let a right of this kind, if ought to have been put up to the highest bidder*