The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 226, 22 April 1868, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1868.

About a year ago Westport was promised a hospital in some measure adequate to its large surrounding population and the importance of the district generally. Plans were drawn for a suitable building, a grant lor the purpose was apportioned, and there seemed every prospect that the sick, the maimed, and the unfortunate <vould at last be shelteredlike Christians should be, and not as early want of accommodation necessitated. At first the hospital was a zinc house, which obtained and deserved the title of " the sick man's oven," and by way of improvement the patients were afterwards transferred to a stable, In this latter establishment they have been now located some months, notwithstanding all the flourish that was made in reference to the new building. In this, too, they are by no means unlikely to remain, unless our members, and the public in support of them, act promptly and without further delay. Altogether, hospital affairs in Westport have ever been most unsatisfactory. The public, instead of being invited to take a share at least in its management, have been rigorously excluded from any participation in it whatever, and it has been under the immediate supervision of the Commissioner only. ment that the funds have not been as judiciously used as possible, but the system that has hitherto prevailed has had a chilling effect on subscribers, and has prevented the institution from being as popular as such institutions should be. With the exception of those unfortunates who have had to seek shelter and succour within its walls, the very existence of a hospital is hardly recognised, and thus public attention has been diverted from so important a subject. As to the building, we trust that during the session some explanation will be offered, and no further delay will attend its erection, and at the same time that the question is introduced, it would be well to distinctly understand how and by whom its future governance will carried on. We cannot see why the management of the hospital, as obtains in Victoria, should not be committed to a local committee, with a Government officer as its chairman ex officio. This system has worked admirably elsewhere, and why it should do otherwise here passes our comprehension. There is no doubt that if such was the case a far greater amount of interest would be shown in its welfare, and there can be no question that active public superintendance would be beneficial to the general conduct of its affairs, and the welfare of its sick. Take Charleston for instance, where a local committee is established, and where not nearly the same amount of Government aid is given, and see the effect that having the hospital under public control has. If funds run short the committee are most zealous in recruiting them by all means in their power, by balls, concerts, amateur theatrical entertainments, and good hard begging and the consequence is that the exchequer has never yet been empty, and the appeal has never been made in vain. The same would be the case here were it somebody's instead of nobody's business to look after hospital matters, and we hope that the public will exert themselves to obtain an alteration in past arrangements on this head. But there is another plan for raising funds, and at the same time for benefitting the miners or ther persons, whom either their condition in life, or the dangerous nature of their occupations, may make at some time or other, welcome hospital aid. This is very simple, and consists in accepting subscriptions of, say £1 per annum, which entitles the subscriber, as a right, to admission if illness or accident befalls him. By a larger subscription, the subscriber should be not only entitled to hospital advantages himself,

but to give admission orders to such an extent as might be deemed equitable and be fixed by bye-law. There are hundreds if not thousands, who, for such a trifle as that, would gladly insure themselves, as it were against the attack of disease. As a rule, not above five per cent, of the subscribers have occasion personally to avail themselves of the privileges at their command, and thus the funds are vastly increased. Collectors should be appointed to certain districts, boxes put up in churches, courts, and other places, and by the display of a moderate amount of energy the sinews of war to console the afflicted and distressed are readily gathered, without inconveniencing any one. The whole past system has been how not to obtain public support. Let us trust that with the new financial year of the province, a new leaf may be turned over in this respect; that we may have something better than a stable in which to house patients ; something more than Government aid to maintain them with ; and some other course of hospital management than the sole and irresponsible action of the representative of Government in this part of the province.