HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9034, 27 February 1908, Page 5

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BILL.

DISCUSSION BY HOSPITAL BOARD. At a special meeting of the Dis trict Hospital Board, presided over by Mr E. G. Eton, yesterday, a discussion ensued upon the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill. The chairman explained briefly the provisions of- the Bill as far as it affected the Board, and pointed out that whilst Wairarapa had been absorbed into the "Wellington District, with the consequent administration of the funds at Wellington, Palmerston North still remained a separate district. Mr Fisher was of opinion that the Board should protest against the_ inclusion of Wairarapa in the Wellington district unless Palmerston North were also included. MrEwington: You mean to advocate for more of a provincial district. Mr Fisher replied either that or the present system. It would probably be argued that the country district did not contribute towards certain seaport expenditures, which were burdensome upon the seaport organisations, but provision for that should be made out of the Consolidated Fund. Mr F. W. 11. Kummer said there were so many objections to the Bill that a representative to the Conference should be appointed with instructions to kill the measure if possible. It was worse than useless to discuss it at all. Mr Jackson approved these remarks. Mr Perry: I thought it might be advisable to advocate a prior convention of delegates from all over the dominion, each member to represent a large district, and have the Bill thoroughly discussed and suitable alterations made before the main conference was held. This first conference, having as it would an earnest desire to frame a workable measure, -vould, with the assistance of the Minister (who was assuredly desirous of having a satisfactory enactment) frame a better Bill than that which the conference to b-iheld, in June would draw up. Such conferences as the latter were very perfunctory affairs, as a rule, and earnest discussion was not always their characteristic. There was no doubt the present measure was intended to propitiate Hutt and Horowhenua districts, which had undoubtedly been severely bled in the past. To discuss the Bill was certainly a waste of time. If the Bill was allowed to go to the conference already proposed in connection with it, it vvould mean that it would go through practically as it now stood. Mr Matthews said little, profit would come of sending suggested amendments to the conference~-ex-perience had shown that. Mr Maxton suggested the passing of a resolution of protest against the Bill, with the endorsement of all the. local bodies attached. Mr Ewington considered it was advisable for the Board to take the clauses of-the Bill seriatim, discuss them, and send a representative to the conference fully conversant with the Board's views on each. The conference would want something more substantial to work upon than a mere general disapproval. Mr Ewington said it would be a fatal step to argue for a provincial district, as it would only strengthen the hands of the authorities in the step they- now proposed. The chairman was favourable to Mr Maxton's idea. If the local bodies were in favour of 'the control being removed to Wellington-well and good, but if not, and they endorsed a Board resolution to that effect, the representative to the conference could fight < tooth and nail against it. Mr Kummer thought that a concrete discussion should be left over until next statutory meeting, and in the meantime local bodies could add their quota of resolutions and suggestions, for only by such could a workable measure be formulated. After some further discusison, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Maxton, to set up a committee, composed of the chairman and Messrs Ewington, Perry, Fisher, and the mover, to discuss the Bill and report upon it in detail at the statutory meeting in March.