Wellington Hospital Board Officials.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 June 1913, Page 3

Wellington Hospital Board Officials.

ARE WEAK 011 GEOGRAPHY!

Heartburnings have been caused at Tokomnru, beyond Shannon, by the insistence of the Wellington Hospital Board officials on "outside" charges (for treatment at the hospital) being placed on all patients from Tokomaru. This town always lias been in the Wellington Hospital Board District; so naturally tho Tokomaru settlers are sore over being asked to pay nn extra five shillings weekly for hospital treatment whenever they need it.

A strong objection (on behalf of the Tokomaru ratepayers) was made recently by the Horowhenua County Council, arising out of the latest complaint received. In this instance a promise bad been made by a hospital official that tho overcharge would not be insisted upon. Tliis promise was given when a council representative proved to a board official that Tokomaru really was P. part of the Wellington Hospital District. Therefore, a few weeks later astonishment was caused when the patient was billed for the treatment still on tho "outside" patient scale.

The chairman of the council (Councillor Stephenson) made further remonstrances, and evontunlly drew out tho extraordinary explanation "That a mistake had hcen made; the Hospital officials thought the patient came from Tokomaru Bayl" (Gisborne district.) Councillor Skerman: A very weak explanation! Councillor Monk: Is that an explananation. Mr Chairman, or just a quibbleP The chairman: It's an evasion. Councillor Freeman: It's well to have tho facts! That lady lias been in the hospital before—tlhree or four times—and slio never paid a penny; so it doesn't matter what tliey charge her! The chairman: That may he so, Tint I didn't knew it. Bill the fact remains that hers is only one case; tliis has happened on several oocasions with oases from Tokomaru.