THE TIMARU HOSPITAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1994, 14 January 1890, Page 2

THE TIMARU HOSPITAL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, 1 have been puzzling my brain trying to find a reasonable excuse for the existence of the Timaru Hospital since the recent discovery of the principles of its management-said principles being evidently the fruit of a theory that hospitals should only be used for physicking swells whom nature punishes for their many sins. Why should such an institution be kept up at such a cost for such a purpose, and ca.l it a charitable institution at that I it is a well-known fact that the earnings of working men don’t average £1 a week : therefore the excessive charge of £1 15a is put on for the express purpose of preventing the working class from getting any benefit from the hospital. The stupidest fool that ever swaggered an eyeglass knows perfectly well that no naan can support a

tamily and pay 35a a week out of an income that is less than 20a a week Why should the poor be compelled—by a tea tax or otherwise—to contribute to the 4 support of an institution they can never J enter except as paupers, and to be hunted * as criminals for years after ? Indeed, an hospital that is run on commercial principles is a very dangerous place to send a

poor person to. A pauper's funeral is not a very expensive affair. The public safety, : by isolation of contagious diseases, waa one of the chief ideas that led to the founding of hospitals; on the same idea rests their chief claim for public support The case of Mrs Egan was peculiarly applicable to that idea. A private physician can only attend such cases at the expense of a great sacrifice to ins profession afterwards, or the risk of becoming a source of public dauger. h«cr.fice of private interests for the v>elloewg of the community i 3 a duty essential to nHfonal life. It is also a duty of the community to make private sacnfice as limits and as little felt as possible-hence > I o ' But here we an 'instance of a doctor at the door of an hospital stamping his foot and asking. How dare you bring such a case here!" ■'. mZ ' P Tt e Wh ° ° an tol6rate BUCh n uTa • lnd, g" atl °i meetings should ln . eV6,y di9tdCfc Where < ozan d scent men can be found. Are vcTnitTf^Th^PK 11 - 111 Temuka ™ d its v.cnity ! Ihe Chairman of the Temuka i<>wn Board ought to call a public meeting t.l we see whether there are or not This is another example of the dire effects of , "orsh.pping .ha Golden Calf. The nro'f C S oc V i e etv b ° re N r b the m ° St «"W »em P S; r . 800 >ety. No one can live a single dav - without the products of labor, therefore tion. Very, very f ew 0 f the producers ara ei * ht ad " 9 At eight sh.ll.ngs a day, although a man were to live on the wind and save all hi. Z^?- thia g ~ SffiK'S , to be rich ,s the only qualification required of the aspirants to positions whe?e h£ talhgence, integrity, honestv of pZose and high-toned morality are necessarJ ' aye, mdispensible.-I am, etc., 7 ' MB Socialist.