THE HOSPITAL ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 334, 9 March 1910, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL ELECTION.

Nominations for seats on the new Hospital Hoard close to-day, but it is unlikely that the local bodies: will be put to the expense oi an election, it is generally known that the old system of appointment to tlie Hospital Boards has now given place to the more democratic procedure of election. Under the new Act the scope of the administration of hospitals and charitable aid has been considerably extended, and also brought 1 more closely into -touch with the people. The Taranaki District has been extended to include the whole of the Egmont, Taranaki and Clifton counties. The representation of the boroughs within the area has ibeen separately provided for, New Plymouth and the town district of Fitzroy forming one district. Although the municipal lranchise obtains within the borough, a ratepayer's qualification is essental in the town district, as in the counties. The combining of New Plymouth and Fitzroy, under these circumstances, would, in the event of an election, act inequitably so far as the latter was concerned. While we would prefer to see more active interest evinced by the ratepayers in the forthcoming election, we think at the same time that the best interests of the hospital district «nd the ratepayers may be served by returning, for the first term at least, the members' of the old board, who are familiar with the duties of the office. It is only reasonable to suppose that, with their experience, the new machinery of hospital reform will be more easily brought into smooth-working order than were a board of men new to the management of the institutions returned. The expense of an election also is an item that the local bodies have no particular desire to incur at this juncture. The cost of subsequent elections will be small compared with what would be the cost of a contest now. While, therefore, more public interese in hospital and charitable aid matters might be induced by an election contest, we are certain the public are far from being indifferent on the subject, and that the regime of hospital reform will not be perjudiced in the slightest degree if no contested election takes place on this occasion.