OUR HOSPITAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3071, 22 March 1892, Page 3

OUR HOSPITAL.

TO THK KIHTOR. Sib,—l hope you will kindly grant mo space to reply to a letter in your issue of tho 15th inst., headed " Our Hospital," and signed "Raglanite." As I have tho honour to represent the Raglan County, on the Hospital Board, I feel it my duty to eive some of the information asked for. Although "Razlanita" would have inspired more confidence when svriting on (this all-import ant subject had he signod his name. Then we could understand tho nature of his interest. With regard to our contribution last year amounting to six shillings in the £' en the amount of rates collected, that goes for nothing perhaps we had a small rate. It is quite certain Rnglan paid only in the same proportion on her value as the other contributing bodies. I refuse to move the resolution asked for, it seems to me " Ranlanite" is one of those men that wish to peep into his neighbours' private affairs. lam not under his orders. To the Raglan County Council alone, lam answerable for my actions on the Board. I am confident not one of those gentlemen would ask me to move such a resolution, I think it would be a breach of trust to publish the mimes and addresses of patients indebted to the Board. Each member of the Board has been furnished with tho name and address of each person in his district that owes Hospital fees. " Raglanite "ought to remember that the average Waikato settler cannot always put his hand on the cash when demanded, if he or some member of his family has the misfortune to be in Hospital for some months. It is quite certain he cannot pay it out of his income, then I say give him time, money is never out of date, but do not make liis name public property because he is short of money. "Kaglanite," may be one of those peculiar people that never goes beyond a dose of salts for medicine. Still it may be interesting to him to hear that the Bum of £141 17s is due to the Board by patients in the Raglan County in various sums from 16s up to £49 16s, most of this money I look on as doubtful. Well, Sir, I expect the other counties are in the same fix only on a larger scale. In conclusion " Raglanite " may rest satisfied there is nothing rotten in any transaction of the Board. I hope he can say the same himself.—l am, etc. J. McGuirk. Harapepe, March 17th, 1892.