NATIONALISING THE HOSPITALS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2203, 16 July 1914, Page 8

NATIONALISING THE HOSPITALS

DISCUSSION AT THE MUNICIPAL CONGRESS PROPOSAL DEFEATED The only remit that was discussed at any length at all at yesterday morning's brief session of the 'Municipal, Conference was,that submitted by the Petone Borough Council, which read: "Nationalisation of Hospitals, etc.—That the present method of levying local bodies for the upkeep of Hosptals and Charitable Aid be discontinued, and that hospitals, etc., be nationalised and tho whole . upkeep be met out of general revenue, the whole treatment, etc., to ho free of cost to patients, and tho Government to be urged to bring down the necessary lesislation to give effect to same." The remit was, formally moved by Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, the Mayor of Petono, and at onco opposed by Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M:P. (Napier), who said that its adoption would, in his opinion, mean an additional burden upon the poorer section of the taxpayers. Mr. H. J. Otley (Ohristehurch) also took strong objection to the remit. He said that the tendency was to throw far too many things upon tho Government. > He hoped tlie proposal would ho thrown out. • ,' The remit found a strong supporter in the Hon; J. Barr, who regarded hospitals as purely national institutions. Theycould. have,no* purely local sphere because the bonds of common humanity compelled their doors to be thrown open to all who came along. The contention of Mr.' Brown- ■ was invalid because everything of tho kind was a burden to the poor in any case. He urged that all hospitals should bo free. Mr. AV. J. M'Grath (Napier); who opposed the remit,' said that his experience suggested that if the hospitals were nationalised there would be so much red tape that most of the patients would be dead'before they could be adaiitted. Mr. B. R. Gardener (Levin) said hewas surprised at the rapid increase in the number of patients in hospitals during the last ten years. ■ The admissions and beds occupied had grown in a .much greater proportion than 1 had the population. The more quickly : the matter of nationalising the hospitals was taken up tho better. They could still be controlled by boards, but the money should be provided by tho Stato. Mr. R,. T.-Michaels (Auckland) .opposed the remit, because ho did not believe in pauperising the people. Tho majority of the workers did not want oharitj'j as was shown by the fact that the Friendly Societies had established hospital funds in order that their fees could.be paid out of contributions. Mr. T. B. .-Williams (Mayor of Wanganui) said it was. not a question of pauperisation at all—it was one of what was tho host for the people of tho Dominion. He pointed out that the hospitals" had valuable endowments . that would have to bo pooled and vested in tho Grovernmeiit, but that would bo no loss, as .the peoplo \vould havo them.'' Possibly tho Legislature could not inako hospitals free, but the' Government would he able to make those who were in a position to pay contribute in proportion to their means. He Btrongly supported the remit. Mr. H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch) wanted to know who would find the money if tho hospitals were nationalised. A voice:- Tho land and income tax! Mr. Holland said no—it was the people in any case. •' Largo sums of money had been raised in Christchurch by. subscription for a consumptives sanatorium and for a children's ward, and they would never have had those institutions if the State had had control. At the present time Christchurch was bettor provided 1 with institutions for fighting consumption than any other city,_ and it certainly would not have been in so satisfactory a position if the State had controlled the hospitals. ■ s An amendment to omit tho words "the whole treatment, etc., to be free of cost to the patients," was lost on tho motion. Mr. M'Ewan, replying, said that tho method of raising, contributions for tho erection of hospitals was only a form of pauperisation. On the other hand, whilst Christchurch was fighting the white scourge by erecting sanatoria, what were Wellington and other places doing by allowing tho existence of localities which were mere, breeding places for tuberculosis? Tho remit was declared lost on the ■voices. On a show of hands it was lost by 29 votes to 25.