HOSPITAL CRITICISM.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1922, Page 4

HOSPITAL CRITICISM.

RESENTED BY BOARD. COUNTY CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS. Resentment of criticisms made by Mr. A. Corkill (chairman of the Inglewood County Council) as to the system of collecting debts owing to the hospital,' was expressed by members of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday. Referring to the report of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Conference at Eltham, in Tuesday’s Daily News, Mr. E. Gilmour drew attention to the fact that Mr. Corkill was reported to have said “that the system of collecting debts, so far as the New Plymouth Hospital was concerned, could be improved. He believed there was a number of wealthy people who used the hospital and did not pay their debts. He thought also that less might be spent on the beautification of the New Plymouth Hospital and grounds.” As a matter of fact, said Mr. Gilmour, the department had congratulated the board upon the amount of debts they had collected, and as for Mr. Corkill’s statement that the wealthy men did not pay, that was absolutely wrong. As for the assertion that too much money was spent on the hospital grounds, it was very evident that Mr. Corkill had not been round the grounds, which the speaker had no hesitation in saying were a disgrace to the hospital. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. S. Vickers also resented Mr. Corkill’s remarks, which were entirely uncalled for. There semeed to be a lot of critics who resented the maintenance of the hospital—ready critics but slow to appreciate the good work being done. Mr. Vickers said, in passing, that he was pleased to know the telephone statements had been disproved. Mr. Corkill’s mission in life seemed to be to go round and interfere with everything that did not concern him. If it was not for the fact that he was a county chairman, the speaker did not believe any notice would be taken of Mr. Corkill’s remarks, and the speaker desired to deny Mr. Corkill’s statements point-blank. ' As for the latter statement, that less might be spent on the beautification of the New Plymouth Hospital and grounds, these were not in keeping with the institution, and the only money spent on them was for the purpose of keeping them presentable. The buildings at the hospital, too, were starving for a coat of paint, but the board was trying to keep down expenses so as to save the ratepayers as much as possible. The hospital levy would have to be increased, and it would be as well for it to be paid with better grace; otherwise selfrespecting men were not going to carry on the business of the board. Mr. Corkill’s statement had been made before representatives of local bodies throughout the province, and was apt to give a wrong impression if not contradicted. Mr. Corkill, bj’ bis statement, paid little respect to the two Inglewood representatives on the board, and was evidently not voicing the views of the people in the district. The sooner these erroneous statements were refuted the better it would Ibe. Other members concurred in the views expressed by Messrs. Gibnour and Vickers.