HOSPITAL BOARDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARDS

SUBSIDIES AND REPBESENTATION. The question of representation on and the subsidising of hospital hoards was considered at tho conference of tho Municipal Association yesterday. The Wellington City Council and tho Palmereton North Borough Council urged the adoption of the following remit:'"That tha present system of hospital administration, under which tho Government and local bodies have to raise thb money that is needed, and the boards, without any effective control or responsibility,' are privileged to spend it, is, highly unsatisfactory. That an amendment of tho law is urgontly required which will provide for the representation of tho Government and local bodies on tho boards in anproximate proportion to their respective contributions. That .tho preient system of subsidy from the Consolidated Fund is arbitrary and inequitable and should be placed on a just and uniform basis." Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P. (Mayor of Palmerston North) 6aid tho present position was that non-ratepayers could sit on hospital boards and vote the expenditure of public money. Mr. E. P. -Rishworth (Mayor of Lower Hutt) said tho present 6ystem of hospital administration was unwieldy. Many people were using publio hospitals who could afford to pay for privato treatment. It had never-been intended that the hospitals should be used by such people. Miss E. Melville and Mr. P. J. Nerheny (Auckland City Cocuncil) opposed the remit as they considered that thero was sufficient representation at the present time. Mr. J. P. Luke (Mayor of Wollincton) said tho popular election of hospital boards had not resulted in that fine sys-. tern of administration that had been expected. The people sitting on hospital boards did not feel any responsibility in the spending of money. The burden of hospital rates was increasing year by year and was becoming of such a character that ultimately it could not bo carried; If hospital boards had power to levy rates—and to thi» he would ob-ject-Mioy would feel more responsibility in the spending of money. He was opposed to there being more than one rating authority in any city or borough. Ho could not see why tie Government should differentiate betweon cities on the question of subsidies. Auckland received a £ for £ subsidy, whereas Wellington received only about 16s. '3d. Tho popular vote could be retained, but bo thought that local authorities • should be ablo to send representatives to nit on hospital hoards. The remit was adopted. The following remit from South Invercargill was also carried-. "That where hospital and charitable rdd boards purohase land for hospital purposes, and the borough in which tho land. is purchased loses revenue in rates, it be made compulsory for all. contributing local bodies who have tho benefit of that hospital to contribute, pro rata, to make up that loss of rates to the local body in whose district the lend was purchased." .