HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9131, 2 July 1908, Page 5

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID.

MEETING OF LOCAL BODY DELEGATES. HOSTILITY TO UNITED DISTRICT PROPOSAL. A meeting was held in the Masterton County Council Chambers, yesterday morning, of delegates from the various local bodies and others to consider the position of Wairarapa in regard to the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill. Mr E. G. Eton, chairman of the Wairarapa District Hospital Board, presided, and there were also present—Messrs P. L. Hollings (Masterton Borough), W. J. Welch (Masterton County), Wm. Perry. (South Wairarapa County), T. Moss' (Eketahuna County), A. J. Speedy (Castlepoint County), D. P. Loasby (Greytown Borough), W. Moore (Carterton Borough), M. Maxton- (Greytown), R. Brown (Masterton Hospital irusle-s), and W. C. Buchanan.

Messrs A. W. Hogg, J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P.'s, wrote stating that if they could conveniently leave their Parliamentary duties they would be present. The Chairman formally stated the object of the meeting— namely, to make a united and emphatic protest against the proposal in the Bill to make Wellington and Wairarapa one administrative district. MiEton stated that the recent conference in Wellington had not bien productive of anythiifg definite in the way of amendment to the Bill to sever the two districts, and it was generally thought that a firm attitude should be taken by the local bodies. The local delegates to the conference , therefore called the meeting together.

Mr Maxton then outlined the result of the deliberations at the Wellington Conference, and remarked upon the united opposition offered by the Wairarapa delegates. He stated that the City delegates and Dr Valintine (Chief Inspector of Hospitals) were opposed to the severance. The speaker and Messrs Brown and Eton had called' upon Dr Valintine at his office and discussed the matter together, but no tangible outcome had resulted. It was argued that a great many Wairarapa patients went into the Wellington Hospital, and that therefore the Wairarapa should contribute towards the cost of their treatment. He was against the uniting of the two districts, on the ground that Wairarapa would play a minor part in the administration of the funds, and its position would be analogous to that of school committees, i *Mr Brown, a delegate to x the conference, confirmed Mr Max ton's remarks. He suggested the formation of a strong deputation to wait upon the Minister and protest against the joining of the districts as proposed. Mr Buchana,n said, in reference to the statements that Wairarapa patients found their way into Wellington Hospital, that there was, perhaps, some justification for saying so. He alto considered that the linkmgup of two Hospital districts and the Charitable Aid Districts was a move in the wrong direction, and was oven worse for Charitable Aid than for the Hospital authorities. Further discussion ensued on similar lines to that which occurred at the previous meetings of delegates, the meeting being unar.i mously opposed to the per;ion of the Bill "which aimed at the uniting of Wellington and Wairerapa. distrietn. Mr Moss moved, and Mr Loasby seconded, that the Mayors of the various Boroughs, Chairmen of County Councils and Town Boards, Mr Buchanan, the Chairman of the Hospital Board, and the Trustees who represented the District at the recent conference, be appointed a deputation with power to add to their number, to wait upon the Minister to urge the separation of the district for Hospital and Charitable Aid purposes, and that the members for the three constituencies arrange for an immediate interview with the Minister, and they be also asked to introduce the deputation.

On .the. motion of Mr Perry, seconded by the Chairman, it was resolved to inform the members for the three constituencies of the regret of the meeting that they (the members) were not able to attend, in view of the importance of the matter. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the delegates frpm the district who ' had attended ' the conference at Wellington for their valuable services.

DEPUTATION TO BE RECEIVED ' ON WEDNESDAY.

The Secretary of the District Hospital Board, Mr P. G. Moore, received a telegram last evening, to state that the Minister would receive the deputation on Wednesday next.