Hospital for Stratford.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 113, 17 May 1904, Page 2

Hospital for Stratford.

TIIE SEPARATION MOVEMENT. Timo after time the Stratford people have endeavoured to obtain a public hospital for their district. The movement has taken various forms, including an 'agitation for the establishment of a cottage hospital. A new phase was presented at the Taranakl Hospital Board's meeting on Monday, when Mr Liardet brought forward a motion, in accordance with previous notice, in favour of creating a new hospital district in the inland area, having the Hawera hospital district on the south, and Taranaki on the north, and extending eastward into the Ohura valley. He moved "That this board is of opinion that it is necessary and expedient that the Stratford County and Borough be constituted a separate hospital district, under separate administration, and that this board consents to the severance of the Stratford County and Borough from the Taranaki Hospital District, and will do all in its power to facilitate the creation of a new district." Speaking to the motion, Mr Liardet said it was unnecessary for him to go over the arguments which had been adduced at the board'* table on so many occasions in favour of the erection of a hospital at Stratford. He hoped that tho board would now be able to see that the time had arrived when tho Stratford people should be allowed to administer their own affairs. Since ;last meeting,public meetings had been held at Stratford and the settlements surrounding it, and.b&..CQaJsljjay fear of contradiction thut iiT the Stratford borough and county there were not ten ratepayers against the proposal now before the meeting. If the board wished to consider the interests of the people in the districts immediately concerned, to do what was just and right and to grant to these people what was only their own right, then they must affirm the principle of separation. They must remember that Stratford was now a town of some sizo and importance, and its people were quite able to govern themselves in this matter. He did not wish to hold out a threat to the Board, but would say that if the . al ? wou ' ,( l n °t pass tho resolution asked for, a petition now in course of circulation would be presented to parliament, praying for the separation. He hoped, however, that to prevent friction the Board would ab ly consent to "cut the paiiiMr Mackay seconded the motion, saying that in the course of his experience of the recent meetings he had only found one man opposed to tho separation scheme, and he was only a dissentient because he thought it would mean throwing the Old 1 eople's Home as a "white elephant" on Now Plymouth. Mr Mackay was now quite convinced thut the people of the Stratford district were practically unanimous in the demand for a 'hospital. Mr (.ray said he was generally opposed to the present decentralisation scheme, and referred to tho diminution of revenue that must result to this board from the (severance of the Ilawern and Stratford districts. His opinion was, too, that the bigger the hospital the greater attention and greater attendance could be provided for patients. But Stratford seemed bent on separation and he would be prepared to support tho motion, provided that those people who were now clamouring for separation and who had built the present largu institutions in New Plymouth would not endeavour to throw the cost of maintainingthe Old People's Home on the reduced Taranaki district. He also stipulated that the efficiency of the New Plymouth Hospital must not be impaired. Mr Andrews did not like the wording of the motion, which ( seemed to cast on the Board the onus of the separation. He agreed with Mr Gray's remarks and moved an amendment to the effect that tho ratepayers of the Stratford county and borough having expressed a desire to have those districts constituted a separate hospital district under separate management, this board consents thereto, provided this can bo done without impairing the efficiency of the present hospital arrangements.

The Chairman seconded the amendment. It seemed t« him that the matter had not been properly brought before the -board, as lie considered the contributing bodies at Stratford should have made application for the severance. This might be an agitation by an individual, lie would be prepared to support the scheme when he knew olliciallv that tho Stratfortf Cmmt.v (We'tt and the Stratford Ho)'«ug-|i Council were 'fl fftvqur of it,

Mr Mackay said the Stratford County Council 1 had passed a resolution in this direction, authorising its hospital representative to call public meetings and asking the cooperation of the Horough Council. That body had extended its heartv co-operation. '

J he Chajrmpn still thought there si, ->uld be an official communication on the matter before Mr Liardet's motion could be passed. It wn ' s most necessary, too, that the board should SO treat this matter as to eliminate all possibility of having tho elhciency of the present instiu.t Uon impaired. He felt sure that the patients 111 the hospital were not kept for the 28s per week levied. (The secretary : The cost i» eitrht shillings per day.) If they were to lose Stratford and Ilavvero. then the Board must i mpose a tariff that would have the effet of patients from those districts. The New Plymouth hospital was fully equipped and splendidly staffed, second to none in the colony, and he expected that any serious opera-

tions amongst) Taranaki people would still be conducted in the biggest institution.

Speaking to the amendment, Mr I/iurtli-l said the board could surely lakf tile word of Messrs Mnok.iy and lliue, representing the ,Strutlord County Council, and of himself as the representative of the rttratford Borough Council. At uny rate, the board knew quite well the feeling of the Stratford public on thin mutter, which had been discussed time alter time. He had presented to the board a petition which had been circulated in the district, and bearing over eight hundred signatures in favour of separation, and also carrying copies of the resolutions of locul bodies in favour of the movement. lie could see little in the plea that the .New Plymouth hospital would loso patients, as tho natural increase of population here would keep the institution lull. He was sure tli..L the Stratford people would as-sist in Uu' maintenance of the Old People's Home. Mr Gray would support the motion if the adjustment of accounts took place before the severance.

Mr McDonald opposed the motion, contending that it appeared as if the severance were made at the instigation of the board.

Mr Hine regretted that this amendment had been brought up, as ho knew that the Stratford people were almost unanimous in their demand for a hospital there. There was absolutely nothing in the contention that this was the motion of an individual. Didn't all motions emanate .'from individuals?

Mr Cliflf supported the amendment, promising, however, to vote for the motion when lie was certain that the people in the districts concerned were at its back.

Mr Liardet warmly contended that it was an insult to the Stratford members of the board to duubt their motives.

Mr Mackay said that the argument that there should have been an official communication was surprisingly absurd. And he might remark that if the board would not agree to the motion, then the ratepayers would fight them, and would win eventually,

Mr Kgott supported these remarks.

Mr Cock deprecated the warmth displayed. He was sure that lie was acting rightly. The board could not decide this matter except at the request of contributing bodies. Mr Gray Baid he wanted to know what the price of the separation would be. As a man of business he asked himself. "What is the price I have to pay before I let them go ?" That was what he wanted to know, Mr Ldardet altered his motion to read That it is the opinion of the Stratford Borough and Stratford County Councils, expressed through their representatives, that the time has arrived fc* constituting tt separate administration,this board consents to the severance of the Stratford borough and county from the Taranaki hospital district and will facilitate the creation of the new district.

The amendment was withdrawn and the altered motion carried.