The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATURDAY, FEB. 4, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2429, 4 February 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATURDAY, FEB. 4, 1888.

Equal .and exact justice to all mere _ Of wha'soever state oi persuasion, religious or political.

]?uom the reports presented by the Chiiinriiin of tho Waikato District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board at its last sitting, it will be observed that the institution is surrounded with many difficulties and drawbacks. The strain put upon its resources during tho past year has been very great, and lias taxed the energies of tho Board and hospital staff to the utmost. When this district was created into an independent one by being separated from the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, it was solemnly predicted by most of our local quid-nuncs that its utility would be confined to very limited dimensions, and that it would be found to be so little needed that the Waikato Hospital would practically bo more ornamental than otherwise. The appointment of a resident surgeon, secretary, and staff, was then regarded as a stroke of extravagance, and a mere gratification of personal ambition and love of popularity on the part of its more active and prominent supporters. The immense benefit of the Hospital, centrally established, has been incoutostably proved during the period it has been in active operations, more particularly so in the large number of serious and difficult cases of accidents which have been received during the time from all parts of the district and treated with so much conspicuous skill and success. In this, the most important feature of the institution it has gained unshaken public confidence. Under the Act, as it was originally in force, and by which the A'aikato was unwillingly made contributory to the Auckland Board, the ratepayers would have been compelled to support the central institution in the city at double the cost of the one they have been provided with in their own midst with only a fraction of the excellent and beneficial results for their money which the latter confers upon them ; in fact they would have soon found the first order of tilings an intolerable yoke, equal to legalised robbery for the benefit of Auckland.

It is not, perhaps, either a comforting or a creditable topic to discuss that, in so young a country, and one so well endowed by Nature, the necessity of levying poor rates to make provision on so large a scale for the indigent and helpless of our population. But such is the actual state of things the colony has been compelled to face by the force of circumstances which political incapacity and mad-ailminiscration have produced. The colony has, it is true, been growing in populaiiin, and with its increase wo must also naturally be prepared to have ihoso who have becomo impoverished by non-success, sickness, old age, self-abuse, and other causes humanity is heir to. When these contingencies arise then it becomes an obligation on sociot} 7 , represented by the State, and supplemented by the voluntary aid of individual benevolence, to extend systematic relief to those in distress. This is the sad, yet imperative, duty entrusted to the District Board —a duty, we have already seen, that has laid upon them many heavy responsibilities. So pro.-sing tire the existing requirements that it is intended to expend £ JOO in erecting a fever ward and providing additionalaccoinmodation for six extra patients. (Since the opening of the Hospital, last May, ii-i patients all told "have been inmates of the wards. There are at present actual facilities for only 12 patients, though as many as 1(3 have been crowded in tho wards at ono time, an undesirable course to adopt except under unavoidab'o ciictimstances. Persons suffering from fever of a malignant; and con-

tao-ious typo have, very properly, | been refused admittance into the hospital; but the Board recognise the absolute necessity for meeting such serious calls upon the institution, and have determined to add a special ward for the reception of patients of that class. Again, wo have before us the painful fact that the Board is assisting and dispensing uharitable aid to twelve adults, consisting of widows, deserted wives and destitute persons, together with ;i.3 children, who are cither orphans or fatherless, and at Kohimarauui and St. Mary's Orphanage. The Board propose providing in the coming year for an average of sixteen patients at the Hospital : ir.any comforts and ward furniture are needed ; and additional buildings are necessary. For these purposes the Board require for expenditure the sum of .£4,3:30, of which i! 2,1 Go will be derived from the contributing local bodies, and an equal sum from the Government, as provided by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act. Included in this is the expenditure on the Old Men's Refuge, which it is proposed to establish in the old barracks on the. redoubt hill, near S. Peter's Church, the site fixed upon by the Borough Council for the public buildings they have under contemplation. The Hospital Board do not wish to interfere with the purposes of the Council ; they merely desire to utilise, temporarily, the building now standing on the hill, in order to meet a pressing necessity, and during such time as the old structure is alio wed to remain in its present position. From the foregoing recapitulation of the position, of the Board, the. ratepayers will no doubt feel assured that in order to thoroughly strengthen their hands for the work they have to do, and to render so valuable an institution as that in their charge as well appointed and capable as possible, they, the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, require to obtain all the funds the law allows them. The rates may be considered heavy, but it will be readily conceded that the demands of the sick and needy are more urgent, and cannot be ignored. It is a case of necessity being a virtue.