Stratford Hospital Bill.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 161, 12 July 1904, Page 2

Stratford Hospital Bill.

THE TAIiANAKI BOARD WILL OPPOSE IT, A i the. 3'araaaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday tliu Chairman announced that this was a special meeting called in order to discuss the Stratford Hospital Bill. He had stated when he ' first joined the board tliut lie wus in favour of Stratford having a hospital, but he had never given his support to the provisions of the bill. It had I)imi said that certain sections in Stratford hud been set apart as a site for the Stratford hospital. That was questionable, as this board held the titles.

Mr l'igott moved, according to notice, to rescind the resolution of May HStk last, carried on Uio inotioi of Messrs Li*rde6 and Mackay as follows ;—That as it is tlto opinion of the Stratford Borough and County Councils, us expressed through their representarttves l , that the time has arrived for constituting a separate hospital district under separate administration, this board consents to the eoveranco of the Stratford borough and county from the Taranaki hospital district, and will facilitate the creation of tho new district.

Speaking to the motion Mr )'<£- ott said ho wanted tin* mailer threshed out thoroughly. When the previous motion was passed the members had not understood that the severance was to be carried out in terms of the bill now published. His principal objection was that under the clauses of the bill the Taranaki district mrglht have to pay over a sum of two or three thousand pounds to Hie new district. Mr Gray said that when the matter was before the board in May, Mr Liardet made the statement that Stratford desired nothing from tho Taranaki district, but that they were prepared to go out empty-liand-ed. When the resolution was carried, ho had refused to assent| to facilitating the severance. Now he was of opinion that the board should have drafted tho bill, or at any rate been consulted in the manner of its wording. Tho whole thing had been most irregular, tho boll having been drawn by its supporters in their own stronghold. He seconded tho motion.

Mr McDonald supported the motion and corroborated Mr Gray s remark regarding Mr liardot's statement about requiring nothing from the board.

Mr Ciardet : Quite wrong, sir, He explained that tiw board had refused to giant a hospital for Stratford, and their only course was to sever. He had never stated that Stratford was prepared to sever and go out penniless. He had, however, in asking for the establishment of the cottage hospital, stated that the people of Stratford were prepared to erect their own buildings without cost to the board. He could not understand how this impression could have got about, or how members could put him down as such a ''Johnnie" as to suggest going out naked. Ho thought the bill was fair, and the principle of arbitration the proper one. The system was that Stratford should appoint an arbitrator, and New Plymouth appoint one also. Surely New Plymouth had as good a man as Stratford, Tho Chairman : Not New Plymouth, Taranaki. Mr Llardct further remarked that with regard to tho Stratford reserves there was no doubt that the sections had been reserved as a Stratford hospital site. They might have been since dedicated to the Taranaki board. The Chairman : That is so.

Mr Liardot continued. Tho land was certainly set aside in the first instance for a hospital for Stratford, but in tho event of a severance it would now have to be reckoned aa part of tho board's ussets. They were not asking for Ji2. r )00, or anything like it. Theso figures woro only a bogey, lie could not understand how such a change of front could have occurred. In May a resolution had been carried at the board without dissent; now there were nionfjprß prepared to rescind It. He opposed the resolution. Mr Andrews said he had made a point at tho May meoting of refusing to includo the word "facilitate" in the resolution. He now found tluit his reservation was warranted. Ho took it that they were all partners in a going concern, and if some were determined to withdraw It did not follow that tho remaining partners should assume the liabilities. He stated that tho proposal to erect a' Stratford cottage hospital had gradually grown in favour, und were it to i come up now would probably be caei'iod. Mr liardot: Ah ! Mr Hine Bald it wan quite evident that tho motion would bo can-led, but it was pleasing to hoar regrets that the Stratfoid cottage hospital had not been sanctioned. Hut as tho board had not given its consent to that scheme, how could they oppose this, which provided for a fair division of the assets. He considered the provisions of the bill woro fair. Tho Chairman said ho could »ot support the severance, though ho favoured tho Stratford cottage hospital scheme, which would bo useful in caso of accident, whilst any very serious cases could bo sent on here. The Hawera severance had evidently not been of much use to the severed portion, as that district still sent its seriouß cases to New Plymouth, but refused to pay the charges of shillings a day. Even during the past week two patients had l>een sent in from there, though this hoard was taking proceedings to recover past fees. On Saturday a Manaia patient, suffering from appendicitis, had been admitted. There could not bo any doubt that tho Now Plymouth hospital was, and nlwuys would be, superior to any of the smaller country hospitals. It seemed that very soon tho Taranaki county and the New Plymouth borough olono would haw to support the present large institutions, and also that for many "years to come the Stratford people would come to New Plymouth for treatment in serious eases. He suggested to the Stratford members that the bill should be withdrawn, and another attempt made to orect tho Stratford cottage hospital. It would have his support, even at cost to tko board.

Mr IJaEoVf : It'« a pity thero are not inoro likNj you, Mr Chairman. Mr Mackay was surprised at the change of front, though ho gnvo MiGray credit for consistently opposing the bill. What was tho cause of the change ? Mr Andrews (handing a copy of tho bill) : Here is the cause, sir. Mr Mackay said It seemed to him that some people outside had considered tho movement a bad one, and had called that conference of delegates to override the opinions of tho mombers of tho board. It was to these peoplo a question of £s. d., and tho northern pooplo were determined to koop tho money. This Stratford hospital scheme emanated not from tho townspeople, but from every man in tho country. It arose from tho vast extent and rapid settlement of tho county and tho hazardous occupations of the settlers. ,The Stratford people were animated by humane and philanthropic motives, and had not looked much on tho financial aspect. The tyill as now drawn would not pass iu its present form, but must ibo amended in conimitteo and in tho Houso. Hut it would pass; ho was confident of that. In conclusion, ho could not compliment tho weak-knetd board members on their change. Mr Tigott did not reply. Tho motion was earned : Ayes, the Chairman and Messrs McDonald, Pigott, Andrews, Brown, Gray and Cliff; Noes, Mesas IJardet, Hine, and Mackay. Mr Liardet : That Is tho usual voting at this table where thero is aaything of importance to Stratford.