TE AROHA COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4394, 3 April 1909, Page 3

TE AROHA COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Every Britisher who has the interest of our Empire at heart will back up Sir J. G. Ward in his splendid offer to the suppoit of our Navy. But we who live in Te Aroha cannot help wondering that a Minister who can offer to spend over three millions of the public money at a moment’s notice, cannot use a few hundreds (which has been on the Parliamentary estimates for years) in building a Cottage Hospital here for our sick. Surely it is time that a Government, who evidently don’t care what happens to our sick and needy, was kicked out of office. Putting a few flowers in a Domain, a few boards, a coat of paint on our Post Office, will not help our sick. In my last letter I asked the Ministers of Religion in this town to come forward and help to stir up our Government in the matter. Up to the present date (April Ist) only one (Rev P. Cleary) has offered to move in the matter. He stated to me he would orly.be too glad to do anything he can in the interest of such a good cause as the erecting of a ; Cottage Hospital here. Are we to understand from the silence of the heads of denominations that they do not care what becomes of our sick, or in what manner they are treated, or from their silence are we to conclude that they are afraid to draw the wrath of the authoiitifs on their heads, and losp souse of the crumbs which fall from the Government tables I think these same crumbs stop a good many people from expressing their opinions through the medium of the Press, but surely, Ministers of religion ought to be above this kind of crawling. Now I would kindly request the people of Te Aroha and the surrounding districts, which the Cottage Hospital would affect, to watch carefully and note what the three remaining heads of the denominations here will do in the interest of our sick. If they don’t move in the matter they are not fit for their positions, on the other hand if they do tiny will earn the life-long gratitude of all right think 1 * j ing people. The Government are, I understand, buying land largely round Te Aroha township, only a few dajs ago they bought Mr Edwards’ paddock at the back of our Railway Station Now the object of all this purchase can only amount to one thing, namely, that when they come here (as I think they will shortly do) and lord it over us as they do at Rotorua, they can say, we (Government) are the largest land-owners, and consequently intend to be top*dog’s and have all the say ; you people who have lived in Te Aroha for years love the pretty lit tie town, and really have the interest of the place at heart. You can sit down, and look on, and see us (Government) ruti your show in our own way. It will be a case of the 137 Psalm over again. Before cl"sing I would like to thank you for the very kind way you always keep your newspaper open for the publishing of anythin g in the interest of our little town. Dong may your paper remain with us, and get the support it so richly deserves from all people interested in the advancement and good of this place.—l am, etc ,

K. F. W. Lyons-Montgomery.