HOSPITAL AMALGAMATION,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 34, 21 December 1945, Page 5

HOSPITAL AMALGAMATION,

COMBINED MEETING YEAR -BOROUGH COUNCIL PROCRASTINATION After" three previous attempts to - arrange, a meeting with the Borough < Council i'or the purpose of discussing the proposed amalgamation of the AVhakatane and AVaikato Hospital districts, the County Council last Tuesday had the further chagrin of their latest effort to call a night meeting before the -Christmas holi- ■ days again turned down. This was reported to the December meeting of the County Council when it was shown that since September last every attempt to convene a coiifer*ence had failed.

The chairman Mr J. I>. Burnett stated that the Council had agreed to every point made by the Borough Council, being quite prepared to invite the chairman of the Hospital Board, and also if necessary to hold a meeting in the evening. No date apparently suited the Bor r Councillors, ami he had. arranged with the' Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry) for a meeting in the New "Year—January 15. Even that date, he had been informed was not suitable, owing to its close proximity to the holidays, and ■ Mr Barry was not sure whether he himself could ,jbe present. "That is all I have been -.able to do you for 'Gentlemen," said Mr Burnett. "I can only say it is very disappointing. It is apparently not convenient to meet us before ~the holidays and its not convenient after the holidays." It was decided to invite the Borfough; Council to a conference at 2 p.m. on the date mentioned for which purpose a special meeting of rthe County Council will be called. Minister's Letter In reply to the. council's letter on the same subject, the Minister of .Health stated:--"I have to acknowledge receipt of •your letter of 23rd November j in -connection with certain recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government. I am sorry that- as yet it has not been possible to give full consideration to the committee's report, and I am hot therefore in .a position to advise on the point raised by your chairman. I believe there is wide agreement on the desirability of amalgamation ■of hospital districts, chiefly for the .reasons indicated in your letter. However, as the. committee indicated in its the question of ■ the re-organisation of Hospital Districts and other local authority . areas is bound up with the question i of functions of the local authorities >.concerned. In the case of Hospital .Boards there has been a suggestion that' their functions should be.extended to include certain public /health work. AVith this in view it may be found "that some, ol the contributory local authority districts in an existing hospital district .should be included in one new hospital and health district. whilst, other local authority districts may be included-in another new hospital district. For instance, it has, at different times, been suggested that \N hakatane County and other Bay of Plenty ;local- authority districts should be joined with the Rotorua and part -of Taupo County, to form a new health and hospital -district. It is obviously desirable that carcful enquiry be made into the various possibilities. I should be glad to consider any representations the Council wishes to make but suggest that it await the Government's decision on the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee." Discussing the letter, the chairman said that even with amalgamation -with Rotorua, with the rate and the Government shouldering all capital costs the burden on the ratepayers would be much easier.