THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 48, 18 August 1911, Page 3

THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

MEMBERS' PUBLIC SERVICE. Whatever else may be urged against the present system of electing members of hospital boards, it cannot be said that the Taranaki Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board is not a representative body. The chairman pointed out on Wednesday the qualifications of the various members. Starting at his left hand, he indicated Mr. George W. Browne, of New Plymouth, the senior member of the New Plymouth Borough Council and the deputy-Mayor, member of the Taranaki County Council, and a man who has long been actively associated with public affairs. Next was Mr. William Cutfiekl, of Fitzroy, a member of one of the old Taranaki families, for years chairman of the Henui Road Board and a prominent member of the Fitzroy Town Board. His neighbor at the table was Mr. E. Maxwell, from Oaonui, an ex-chairman of the New Plymouth Harbor Board, and one of its trusted members for many veal's, a member of the Egmont County Council, and a man wellknown throughout Taranaki on account of his work on public bodies. Mr. C. Andrews, of Okato, was an old member of the Taranaki County Council and chairman of the Okato Road Board. Mr. M. J. Macßeynolds, of Opunake, they all knew as a public man, particularly because of his connection with the Haweia Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Mr. J. R. Hill had occupied a scat on the Taranaki County Council for a number of years. Then came Mr. Joseph Brown, of Inglewood, chairman for some time and for a great many years member of the Taranaki County Council, and formerly of the Moa Road Board, and one of the oldest members of this Board. Mr. G. V. Tate's name had lj,ng been prominent in local government w:-rk, at present a member and formerly chairman of the Taranaki County Council, mem- 1 ber of the Waitara West Road Board, and a Waitara borough councillor. Mr. C. O'Sullivan, of Uruti, was an old member of the Clifton County Council. Mr. D. H. McDonald had to his credit from 15 to 20 years' service on this Board, was long a member of the Education Board, and an Inglewood borough councillor. The chairman might have added his own qualifications—superintendent of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade, ex-bor-ough councillor, and always an active man in public matters. Of these members nearly every one had previous to the recent election sat for terms of varying lengths at the Hospital Board table as the representatives of the contributing bodies. Mr. Bellringer, continuing, asked whether under any other system of election a more representative body of men was likely to be secured. Personally, he did not think so. Passing on, he said that the present position had been adversely criticised by soma members of local bodies, who had urged that instead of the Hospital Board calling on local bodies to provide funds for the new hospital buildings it should itself raise a loan and acquire rating powers so as to provide the interest. What a work that would be! The Board would have to keep a staff of four or five clerks to collect the rates of this hospital district, which included the New Plymouth, Inglewood Waitara boroughs, the Taranaki, Egmont and Clifton counties, and the Fitzroy town district. This would add greatly to the cost of administration of the Board, and must mean j an incroaso of rates. Members concurred in this