LOCAL BODY CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9537, 8 July 1909, Page 5

LOCAL BODY CONFERENCE.

WAIRARAPA hospital district DELEGATES. UPKEEP OF VICTORIA HOSPITAL, WELLINGTON. A well-attended conference of delegates from,local bodies contributing to the Wairarapa District Hospital Board was held in the Borough Council Chambers, yesterday afternoon, to discuss the question of protesting against the levy made upon the district in connecrtion with the upkeep of Victoria Home for Incurables, Wellington. The Mayor of Masterton (Mr P. L. Hollings) presided, and there were also prisent:—■ Messrs A. Webster' (Greytown Borough), R. B. Robertson (Akitio County Council), E. ICempton (Greytown Borough), E. Page (Eketa- ' huna), W. Moore, (Carterton Borough), W. Perry (Wairarapa County Council), E. G. Eton (Chairman District Hospital Board), D. C. Crewe (Pahiatia), W. Fisher (Wairarapa South), W. J. Welch (Maaterton County), F. W. H. Kummer (Mauriceville County), J. C. Ewington (Masterton Boraugh), A. D. McLeod (Featherston County), Thos. Hodg'ns (Pahiatua County Council), Thoa. Moss (Eketahuna County Council), A. J. Speedy (Castlepoint County). The Mayor briefly explained the objects of the meeting. Mr Moss moved that a committee composed of" the Chairman and Messrs W. J. Welch and F. G. Moore be set;up to give effect to the petition against the levy, and to obtain such legal advice as was deemed necessary, the local bodies to contribute to the motion. The motion was carried.

Mr Hodgins moved that steps be taken to contest the legality of the claim of £1,300 made by the Wellington and Wairarapa Charitable Aid Board on the contributing bodies, as their share of the maintenance of Victoria Hospital. He spoke strongly in favour of such a course, considering that the cost would be more than justified. Mr Webster seconded the motion, and in supporting it said that he thought the full position was not known to the legal adviser to the Masterton County Council when he advised that body to withdraw its protest.

The Chairman pointed out that the Act differentiated between a hospital and a home for in curables, and Victoria Hospital was of the latter class. He felt that a petition to Parliament might be prejudiced if an action against the Charitable Aid Board were dismissed. Mr Ewington strongly supported the motion. Mr Page (Eketahuria) moved to amend the motion to the effect that the committee appointed obtain a further legal opinion, and if it be favourable proceed as suggested. The speaker thought the position a remarkable one to say the least if the local bodies were liable. The thing might go on until other institutions of a like nature were included. Mr T. F. Martin had, in his opinion, said that the various local bodies would be separately liable for the upkeep of any individual sent from their district, but that was not the question now injssue. Mr Beard was very definite on the point, and had apparently gone very carefully into the matter, hut it would not be amiss to supplement the legal opinions already obtained, before other action was taken. Mr W F.isher seconded the motion. Mr F. W.. H. ICummer said the charge had come as a considerable surprise to him, and said that his Ccunc'l had paid their contribution

with some reluctance. He strongly favoured contesting the matter. Mr E. G. Eton said that even if a contest were lost by the local bodies it would bring into prominence the injustice of their being two separate districts. He would strongly support the motion. Mr D. Crewe (Pahiatua) said he favoured going ahead with the legal proceedings. The probable cost would be well justified when the total amount involved to the local bodies was taken into account. It would also show other county local bodies how they themselves were always liable to be at the mercy of city representative bodies. The amendment was put and carried on division.

Mr Page then moved that the Secretary of the District Board ascertain, whether the members of the Wairarapa District Hospital Board wers entitled to a seat as such members on the Wellington and Wairarapa United Charitable Aid Board. The mover read the statutory provisions on the constitution of the Board from which it might be construed that such were the case. Mr F. J. Moore, Secretary of the Wairarapa Hospnal Board, who was. present, said the Act quoted by Mr Page was a consolidated one, and he personally had no knowledge of the provision quoted by Mr Page being contained in any of the old Acts under which the Board worked. Therefore he could not give any opinion off-hand on the matter. It seemed to him an unworkable arrangement.. The motion was seconded by Mr McLeod, and carried unanimously. The Chairman, in a few closing remarks, said that conferences such as the present had been productive of much good to the districts concerned. During his connection with public life in Masterton there had been a conference of some sort cr other at least once every year, and he thought it might be advisable to fix an annual conference in the future with a paid secretary, and thus give the proceedings in the future a more definite shape. The cost also would then be apportioned equally over all bodies concerned. 1 He moved that the conference be made an annual one, and that Mr F. G. Moure be appointed secret; ly for the same, each local body represented to contribute a guinea towards the cost. The motion met with general approval, and was carried unanimously.