HOSPITAL CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 198, 10 May 1918, Page 6

HOSPITAL CONTROL

CHANGE IN SYSTEM DESIRED. Reference to the question .of hospital and charitable aid administration .-pa made at last night's meeting of the Miramnr Borough Council, which .decided to support other local bodies in any action thev may take to secure a change in tho present system of control. The levy imposed upon the borough by the Wellington Hospital and ("writable Aid Board for the current year i«e -CSW). In introducing the subject, Councillor S. H. Underwood stated that a conference to discuss the question was held about three years aao, but nothing decisive was done. He thought that all local bodies throughout the Dominion should, in the quickest and most forcible manner, impress upon the Government the necessity of either reverting to tho old system of constituting boards by representation from local bodies concerned, or else putting the whole system of hospitnl and charitable aid administration under direct control of the State. Ton snnnlly, he was in favour of nationalisation. The higher a standard obtained in an institution such as a hospital tho more national, rather than parochial, became its sphere. Wellington Hospital was probably the best hospital in New Zealand, and was used .by people from all parts of the Dominion. Under the present system hospital boards were not responsible to anybody but themselves in matters affecting expenditure. The Wellington Hospital and Charitable AiS Board was prone to spend money too freelv by adopting any suggestions that might bo made to it by new officials. The levy demanded from the borough this year showed an incrensce of 4fl per cent, compared with what was asked last! vear. He moved that the council support other local bodies in any action they might tnke to have tho present system of control revised. j

Councillor W. 11. Green seconded tho motion, and said he thought representatives from each of tho subscribing horoii»hs should sit on the hoard.

The Mayor (Mr. F. Townsend) referred to what; he considered was a.serious as pect of the question. The tlorowhenua County Council had seceded from tho Wellington Hospital Board, and by doing so had left a very heavy portion of the financial burden to be borne by the remaining local bodies interested. If Horowhonua had done this, what was to prevent other bodies from doing the 6ame, thus placing tho whole cost of'the upkeep of the' Wellington institution ■upon tlio shoulders of only one or two other local authorities? That point should receive the consideration of tho Government He did not see why other local bodies should not sccodr arid start cottage hospitals of their own, or something of a similar nature. Local bodies who were'responsible for levies to hospital boards should have somo voice in the expenditure of the moneys contributed by them. "We will have to foot the bill this time," added tho Mayor, "but I do hope that something may bo done to assist us next year." The resolution was carried.