THE PIAKO COUNTY AND THE HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2089, 26 November 1885, Page 2

THE PIAKO COUNTY AND THE HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID ACT.

At yciterday's mooting (if the Piako Coii^y Cmincil, Cr. Smith, the repic^entntiio of that body on the Thames Board, made some very interesting revelations respecting the working of the Act ho far a-, the I'iako County it concerned. It append th.it the Thanips Hospital, which would seldom 01 never Ik> the resting place of a patient fiom the Piako County, is to be chiefly tn, lint. lined by tho Piako County ratrpiyer*. Cr. Smith pointed out that £4000 would bo required for tho maintenance of the Thames Hospital. Half of the sum would be contiibuted by (jiiwinment and the other half by the latopavers of (he Hospital district. The rateable va'un of the Pi iko County e\coedod very much th \t of all the other parts of the district put tnfcethi'i. The Thames Borough was set down at £17.\000; the Thames County at £14f>,000; Olnneniuri County sit fliS.OOO ; and Piako County at iI,LMO,OOO The difFeience in tho lateablo value of these places win accounted foi by the fact that crown and native lands were exempt. The latcablo value of the Piako County was actually about two thirds more than all tho otheis put together. When the rate for the maintenance of tho Thames Hospital w.is stmek tho Puko County would have to coutiibute 4*looo, equal to a f.n tiling l.ito, and this coming once a yeai would be very seiious. He had opposed the striking of the rate, and had suggested that each distiict should be rated accoiding to its hospital and charitable requirements. Had he not been at the meeting the rate would hay c been lev ied, and they would have done nothing but pay it. The bo.ud had referred the matter to ita solicitor, Mr Miller, with initiuctions to consult Sir Fiedeiick Wlntaker and report at next meeting. He believed that the Act provided that they could have a nep irate district, and the management of a local institution. Instead, therefore, ot contnbuting £1000 a year to the niaintenxnce of a hospital at the Thames which they would hardly ever use, they could do very well on £300 <u £100 a-yeai, by having an hospital, say, Te Aroha. He had explained to his boaul th.it the Piako county would much lather bo connected with Auckland as theie was no advantage in being connected w ith tho Thames. He believed tho (Jovoinnnnt was about to appoint a doctor for the Aioha district, with a salary of £200, to look after the natives. By paying another £100 thoy might secuie the syi vices of tlii.s gentleman fora local hospital. If they vveio not stllowed a hcp.u ate distiict something definite would have to be done. The council thanked Ci. Simth for the trouble ho had taken in the matter and agieed to act upon his suggestions.