THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2066, 12 August 1885, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

United Press association. Wellington, this, day, In committoo on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill last night, Mr Beetham moved that in the definition of Wellington, viz., "all that area in the colony, bcine the Counties' of Wairarapa East and Wairarapa West, Horowhenua and Hutfc, and including all Borough? therein," the inference to the Wairarapa be struck out, and that , a separate district bo constituted of Wairarapa East and West Counties with the Boroughs therein. Mr Fisher entered an emphatic protest against this proposal; pointing out the disadvantages which would result to the Wellington Hospital,' Mr Buchanan expressed surprise that such a protest should be made. He pointed out that in.thei Wairarapa District two Hospitals were carried on almost solely by the people. Their expenditure during the past year had been £9OO, and. the amount received from the Government £3OO.

Dr Newman hope that the country districts would not object to bearing a proportion of the cost of Charitable Aid.

Mr Rolleston pointed out that a vast number of aged poor would gravitate towards the towns, and it would be most unfair f(>r the country if divisions were made. The Government had agreed to cut off the districts which had no hospitals, and which, in consequence of the action of the House, would be freed from contributing to the cost of institutions that would maintain their poor. He regretted that the only Bill the Government had brought down that had the faintest principal of local Government in it was being destroyed in that miserablo way. The Premier said the Government had voted with the minority m these divisions. Mr Ormond replied that tho Colonial Treasurer had actually invited members to make the division he had indicated. Thus the principle of tho Bill, .like the principle of all the Government Bills, was disappearing.

Mr Beetham said he had no intention whatever of evading responsibility. Mr Seddon said the motion carried by Mr Hobbs early in the debate had exempted three counties north of Auckland from contribution. That was different,' however, to the Wairarapa. He contended that the principle of the Bill had been altogether violated. The motion to strike out the words was lost.