HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS ACT AMENDMENT BILL

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2363, 3 August 1886, Page 2

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS ACT AMENDMENT BILL

Mr W. C. Buchanan moved as an amendment to this Bill to separate the Wairarapa from tho Horowhenua Districts. Before tho Act was passed, he said, they had in the Wairarapa two benevolent instutions, 60 per cent, of the cost of which was contributed in tho district. Last year, when the Act was beforo the House, separation was granted in the way of hospitals, but not otherwise, The district had now had a year undor the United District Board. The Board levied a differential rate, against which the Wellington district appealed, and the action of the Board was upheld. The Premier told them the United Board were wrong in levying this rate, and that the commissioners who decided on it were wrong m upholding that rate. Ho was not going to bandy law with the Premier, but he wished to say that the Wairarapa had always taken a prido in maintainiue its own poor, k few days ago the United Board sent a deputation to ask the Premier for separation. The Premier demurred, using arguments that he (Mr Buchanan) did not think applied to the Wairarapa. Tho Premier hoped the clause would not be carried. The Wairarapa representatives on 'he United Board, Mr Bunny (Chairman) and Mr Buohanan " bossed" the whole affair, and the members for the Hutfc, who waited on him the other day, Bhowed that they did not understand the resolution in regard to the differential rate. Mr Buchanan, in reply to the Premier, said Mr Bunny was elected Chairman by tho Wellington members of tho Board; and further, the Wollington members had publicly thanked the Wairarapa representatives for the fairness with which they acted. The Premier repeated that the Wairarapa members had put on tho rate to levy themselves, The poor of the country, he added, always gravitated to tho towns. Mr Pearson sympathised with Mr Buchanan, and would help him as muoh as possible. Dr Nowman said one of the Wairarapa representatives charged very heavy fees-£29 for four visits—and the expanses wero heavy. Then the Wellington people found that they were outvoted, and that was why thoy petitioned for separation,- But the Houbo had now decreed there .should he no differentia) rating, and that the town should havo 'i hotter representation; and therefore, he hened that the Committee would not agree to this separation. : Mr Beetham pointed out that who charged the expenses referred to was the Chairman of the Board, and always obliged to attend. He pointed out. further, that the,'nearest .point of tho Wairarapa district was .35 miles from Wellington. They had' no 'endowments -rand Wellington had a .largo ono-and they wanted simply to maintain their own poor. The clause then went to a division on the question that it be road a second time. Ayes, 29; noes, 34. Clauße struok out,—N.lJ, Times,