Deputation to the Son. J. Sheehan.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2833, 14 March 1878, Page 2

Deputation to the Son. J. Sheehan.

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

A deputation consisting of Mr J. Frater, President, Mr McCullough, Vice President, and Mr J; Benshaw of the Hospital Committee, accompanied by His Worship they Mayor and the County Chairman, waited on the Hon. J. Sheehan at the Pacific Hotel (his morning at 11 o'clock. Mr Frater snid that they waited on Mr Sheehan chiefly in consequence of the receipt of a letter from the Colonial Secretary to the effect that -wherever possible the hospitals in large towns would be placed under the direct control of Municipalities, and it was proposed to subsidise them to the extent of 20s to every 20s collected in subscriptions, and as the femaining cost would fall on Borough funds, to make no deductions from tbe Borough subsidies. The letter also suited that iv outlying districts where a committee existed the Government would cdulinue the giant in aid equal to the amount of voluntary subscriptions, and make no charge on the subsidies whatever. Hitherto they had received a grant of £IC3O per annum from fie Government, and with the subscriptions, which . did not ezc2ed £600 per annum, the Hospital was, maintained. If they only got the £1 for £1 subsidy the Hospital could not be supported. The Hospital, which had cost £1750, had, with tbe exception of some-. £3CD from Government, been erected by piivate subscription, and was thus not in the same position as Hospitals which had been erected out of the public funds. He wished to know if the Thames would be classed as an out-lying district or a large town : Mr Sheehan said that the letter which they had received was not binding, but was sent simply to let them know there was to be a change in the mrnagement and support of hospitals. The self-sup-porting hospitals in the Colony, as the Thames, were the exception and not tbe rule, as most of them, such as the Auckland and Wellington institutions), were entirely supported by Government, which he considered was unfair. It was considered desirable to have the hospitals nnde? local control, as at present the large hospitals were managed by. the Government, which was not satisfactory. With | reference to the quest*on as to whether the Thames would Declassed as an outlying district he thought such a targe and important place hardly could. He did not think the management of the Hospital would be meddled with.

The Mayor said if the place was classed as an out-lying district the Borough funds would not be infringed on. Mr Benshaw said that the letter seemed to imply that they were an outlying district. ; Mr Sheehan said he would not object to its being classed so. Mr McCullough asked would the Borough funds be charged with the deficiency, a 9 only receiving the £1 for £1 subsidy they would be some £40 or £SCO alioi'tP Could they claim that amount from the Bo^ou^h ? Mr Sheehan said they qpuld. He would wire to Col. Whilmore io have the usual grant continued till the 3?st June next. ■ In answer to Mr SheeLin. Dr Kilgour said that this year.some £1400.had been deducted from the 80-ough subsidy for. the support of Hospitals. Mr McCullough said that having disposed of that they wished to draw Mr Sheehan's attention to the matter of endowments for the Hospital. If they had endowmsnts they would not need to come upon the local bodies. During all the time the Hospital had existed they had only received a very small subsidy from the Government — £10f0 yearly. He therefore considered- that they bad a very fair claim for endowments. Mr Frater said that there had always been some five or six persons in the Hospital who were more fit for an Old Maa's Refuge. They had several times tried to get them into the Old Man's Befuge in Auckland, but could not. He sugpjstcd that endowments might be used for the erection of buildings which might serve for the accommodation of those inmates of the Hospital. Mr Sheehan said he would be in favor | of endowments to the Hospital. The Mayor referred to a former conversation he had had with Mr Sheehan and the Premier on the subject of Hospital endowments, when he (the speaker) had suggested the acquirement, as an endowment for the Hospital, of the Hot Springs at the Miranda. Mr Sheehan had then promised to see into the matter. Mr Shesban* said that that could not have been done until the other day, as Mr Mackay had had all the papers relative to uncompleted land purchases in his possession, and it w;n not known if the land referred to belonged to Government or not.

Mr J. Mackay, who wra called in, said that the land was under negotiation, but the Satires had reserved the springs. Ihere was Tery little good land near the springs. ■ Mr Sheehau said that they could not make the springs an immediate source of revenue. He thought it would be well to reserve tho springs for the public, and f;ivo to the Hospital an endowment of and up the country thai would return them immediate profit. Mr McCullough asked if a grant could at once be given to the Hospital for the purchase of land in or near the township for the benefit of the Hospital. Mr Sheefcan said that that could not be

done as there was r.o appropriation for that; purpose, but a grant could b« marie^ for Buildings. Mr McCullofigh said that they would be pleased with such a grant and would try to purchase the land themselves. Mr Sheehan said ho would wiro at once to Sir George Grey to ask him to agree to an expenditure of £300 or £400 for the purpose of erecting additional .hospital' buildings. The deputation thanked Mr Sheehan, and withdrew.