THE NEW HOSPITAL DISTRICT. Meeting of Delegates at Hamilton.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2217, 23 September 1886, Page 2

THE NEW HOSPITAL DISTRICT. Meeting of Delegates at Hamilton.

A MKEriNG of delegates from the various contributory bodies in the new hospital district of Waikato was held at the Hamilton Borough Council Chambers yesterday morning. There were present Mr W. A. Graham, (Mayor of Ha mlton, in the chair) ; Mr J. B. Whyte, M.H.R. ; Mr X Lake, H.H.R. ; Mr W. L. Williams, (Chairman, Piako County Council) ; Messrs A. Primrose and S. T. Seddon, (Chairman and member, Waikato County Council) ; Capt. McPherson ; Mr Teasdale, (Waipa County Council) ; Mr Russell, (Cambridge Borough Council). The Chairman shortly explained the object of the meeting, which was to determine the position of the new district. He was of opinion that the committee should, in the first place, obtain legal advice. They were all aware that the various local bodies had agreed not to pay the amount of the contributions claimed by the Auckland Board. They would have to consider the propiiety of resisting these claims. He apologised for the absence of Mr Pegler, the Raglan representative, who w.is prevented by the bad roads and the state of his ho.ilth from attending. The local authorities of Raglan were, however, quite willing to .ibidfi by the decision of the meeting.— Mr Williams said he had forwarded a strong protest to the Government against appropriating the subsidies for the payment of hospital contributions.—Considerable discussion en sued, various opinions being hazarded as to the position of the new district. In respect of the liability of the new district to contribute for the present year, Mr Russell thought they could not dispute payment of the ">utn aheariy due, but after the new boawl had been elected they would stand on a different footing. — Several were of opinion that payment of the money could be resisted. —Mr Teasdale said the W.iipa Council were fully prepared to re-i-t payment if it were possible to do so. They regarded the claim us a most unjust one, and a special r.rte would be required if the money must be paid. — Mr Lake said clause 11 of the, Amendment Act appeared to him to give the Auckland Board power to levy a special contribution for Charitable Aid. The Waiknto wo.ild not bo separated from the United Board until the Ist. April. He d.d not think they could legally fiucht the assessment, heciuse they had practically accepted it. He strongly advised them not to resist payment of the contributions. — Mr Seddon supported Mr Lake's views. — Mr Teasdale still protested that they should not pay the money.— Mr Lake said it wan fully clear that they could not legally resist payment.— Capt. McPherson thought they should not willingly agroe to send three or four thousand pounds out of the district. He thought they should maintain their former attitude of passive resistance. — Mr Williams agreed with this. The Government would probably appropriate the subsidies, it was true, but it would be better to submit to that than to pay voluntarily. — Mr Primrose said they should continue to protect against the injustice by not paying voluntarily. — Mr Russell did not see what was to be gained by passive resistance. — Mr Seddon said the cmu^o proposed was not dignitiVd. The old Act was certainly unjust, but the Government had done their best to jemedy thism the Amendment Act. —Mr Ruwll thought they should deal fr.mkly with the Auckland hd.iid. Lot them pay the contributions in full, and when the new board w.is elected in November, they could go to Auckland with a good grace and a-k fm a lefuni representing the amount for the unc\pired porti'-n of the cuncnt year. Mr Willuti » moved "'that under clause 2~> appeal* !>e nn-le lespectively by the Piako, Wai\.it «. Waipa, and Raglan counties,' and the b >roi ghs therein, against th) contii'mtionx demanded by the Thames and Auckland l)i-tuct Hospital Boaids as being most exorbitant and not at all commensurate with the benefits received by the very few patients sent to the District Hospital, and that the local bodies named express their di-sent to such unreavmahle charges by each transmitting a copy of this resolution to the Hon. the Colonial Secre taiy, requesting that he may direct an inquity to be made in the matter, as provided by section 25 of the Hoipital and Charitable Institution Act, I.SSS. —Mi Teasdale seconded this.— Mr Lake reiterated his advice not to resist payment. He thought there was really nothing to be gained by it, but if they did decide up >u resisting, one local body should protest so that the cost might be as low as pns«iblt\ Practically, however, he thought the whole thing wouid resolve itself into a question of law. It might be that on a technical point they might win against the United boaid. — Mr Russpll moved as an amendment that the council of Waipa appeal, the cost of such appeal to be borne proportional!}' bv all the local bodies in the new hosintal distnct. — This was seconded ny Mr Plumose. Mr L-ike still contended that the tune for protesting against the assessment had gone by. But presuming it had, th.it would not affect the other counties. - Mr Whyte differed from this view, as the circumstances of the othei counties were much the same as those of Waipa.— Mr Willmiikn withdrew his motion and the amendment, now become the substantive motion, was then put and carried. The question of bunging the Act into operation in Walk ito wis then introduced. —Mr Lake pointed out that tho lepresentation must be fixed by the Governor They would also notice tint in the new I Act provision was made f >r pumping districts. For instance, it was possible that the County of Waipa and the Borough of I Hamilton could be grouped. He had been instrumental in getting tho provision inserted in the Act, with tho object of preventing the counties being swamped by a number of small boroughs. Hoof course made no special reference to the boroughs in Waikato. — Mr Whyte presumed that the clause Was meant to apply to small boroughs contiguous to largo towns.—Considerable discussion ensued. — Mr Seddon moved "That the Governor bo requostud to apportion the representation of the various contributoiy local authoiities in the new hospital distiict as provided for by Clause (J of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, IXB(5."— Mr Piunrose seconded. — Mr Russell moved to add a recommendation th.it each contributing body have at least one icpre.senta.tiv <\ — Mr Lake did not apprehend that the grouping provision would apply to Waikato. — Mr Russell said he wished to piovide against Hamilton and Cambiidge being absorbed in the contiguous counties. — Mr Teasdale did not really see why the boroughs of Hamilton and Cambridge should have separate representation. — Mr Whyte said he would do all he could to prevent the boroughs being prejudiced in any way. —After some discussion Mr Seddon's motion was earned. — Mr Russell then moved that it be a lecommendation to the Governor that the boroughs and Raglan have one, and the other three counties two representatives on tho new board. — This was seconded by Mr Graham. — Mr Tea«dale moved as an amendment that the matter be left in the hands of the Governor. — This was seconded by Mr Pi im rose. — There voted for the amendment Messrs Teasdale and Primrose, and for the motion, Messis Russell, Williams, Seddon and the Chairnvin. —It having been agreed that the chairman bo empowered to communicate with the Government suggesting a day for the election of members and Another for tho first meeting of the new board, the meeting broke up.

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