The Hawaiian gazette., 1882-06-14

At the meeting Of the Trustees Of the
/ Queens Hospital last Saturday, the exccu-
tive committee was instructed to wait
upon the Government, to place before
them the necessity Of assisting the Hos
pital to maintain INDECENT foreigners dur
ing short periods Of sickness.
At present, though the Hospital Is in a
measure supported by a tax which is paid
10y every foreigner who comes into the
country. though it is further supplemented
/ by payment from all foreigners who make
use.of it. yet there Is not a bed in 1t to
which an INDECENT foreigner can be sent
unless some society or individual becomes
4 responsible for him. Foreigners have been
! pouring into the country OF late and the
| Government Is proposing schemes which
are TO bring IN hundreds. perhaps thou
sands. more; Of all these. it Is very evident
| that most VIII do well. Will be able to Law
| by little money. and when time of sick
ness comes, VIII be able to face the evil
/ day. But we are also importing a con
| siderable number who viii inevitably meet
with misfortune, who Will, be. perhaps.
| hampered by sickness from the very start.
and who will be rHaWs TO Law by for the
rainy day. These people, up to the pres
/ ent, have been supported by the funds of
our charitable societies. such as The
American Relief Fund" The British Be
nevolent Society" The Strangers Friend
Society and The German Benevolent So
ciety."
i noble work has been done. and done
very thoroughly by the societies. but the
strain now put upon them Is greater than
they can bear: there Is not an officer of
one of them that will not say. it is impos
sible to do all that should be done Private
individuals are constantly supplementing
the work that societies are doing. and yet
in spite Of this, even land the assistance
from tins source Is liberall, the funds fall
far short Of what they ought to be.
If the Government 20 in for grand
schemes Of immigration. if they import
families, they should certainly provide for
the care Of the members Of those families
when they are sick. The South Sea Island
or came here and fell sick. and Vet 1t cost
sixty cents day 10 provide for him. and
surely the South Sea Islander belonged TO
d ''cognate" race. and was expected to as
simulate with his Hawaiian brother. The
American OF Englishman comes here. in
the shape Of several hundreds a year. each
paving ms Hospital Tax Of - a head and
II one of them becomes unfortunate. and.
falling sick Is unable to work. he has to
pay for his hospital attendance or else get
hls countymen to support him. The
Portuguese has come now. a few thousand
strong. and no provision has been made
for him should he prove unfortunate
There Is no blame TO I've attached to the |
Trustees Of the Queens Hospital in tins |
matter: they are carrying ont their trust 1
IN proper manner they are TO so admin |
lister II that the native. whether INDECENT /
or not. should be doctored. fed. housed and |
looked after free OF charge. the funds to |
be partly drawn from every foreigner who |
puts foot in This country That is their |
duty and. as honorable men. they must /
carry It out. But they do see the injustice /
done the INDECENT foreigner. and this com /
mittee VIII now 90 to the Ministry to ask /
the Government to give grant which shall /
enable the Trustees to be charitable to the 4
INDECENT sick foreigner who comes to our 4
shores. as well as 10 the native. whether /
INDECENT OF not What the views Of the /
House may be upon this point. remains to
be seen what the views Of the Ministry
are, Is problematical 1t Is question
which must be considered. however. the K
mechanics. the agricultural laborers who
have come to these shores. who are. in
conjunction with the capitalists. develop
ing the resources Of this country and in
ereaslag It's revenues TO proportions never