HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 225, 11 June 1918, Page 3

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

AND THE INCREASED LEVIES

REMARKS BY MINISTER

A uumbor' of protests from local auI thorities in (he Wellington Hospital district have been received by the .Minister (the Hon. G. W. llussell) against tho levies made by the Hospital Hoard for ; the current yeaj. .These protests, said J tho Minister yesterday, were recoiving careful consideration. The law provided that if the Minister was of opinion that there was reasonable ground for > further inquiry, a commissioner coum be appointed to consider the matter. "Speaking generally," saw Mr. Bussell, "my opinion is that the largo increase that has taken place all over the Dominion in tho hospital levies is arising out |of the abnormal 'conditions caused by the war. The cost of all necessaries, including footl, has gone up enormously, and if 9111' hospital system is to bo maintained in a state of efficiency tho country must foot the bill. At the same time T realise that an enormous strain is being placed on the, local authorities, and I think, it ninv be considered desirable to return to tho original method of the contributing local bodies being directly represented on the boards. Before coming to a decision as to whether a commissioner should be appointed to report on the Wellington situation, I propose to invite the contributing local authorities to meet mo with the Hospital Board at a rounH-the-table conference. I think"" that perhaps this method of having a preliminary discussion instead of setting the legal machinery in motion may be the shortest plan to meet the difficulties thaT have arisen.

"The necessity for an inspection of hospitals on tho practical and the financial side, in'addition to the inspection now .performed on the medical side, has been strongly impressed on my mind of late. The meetings that I have held with the various nospital boards have shown me that it is "desirable that assistance should be given to the boards m these matters. I am, therefore, considering .the advisability of adding another officer, to the Department who will act as adviser to the boards on financial matters with a view to. keeping down exponse, and to the collection of fees due from patients."