FOOTING THE BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1918, Page 4

FOOTING THE BILL.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Hon. Alinister of Public AYorks in the course of a statement to the Wellington press went oil to say:—Applications have been coming in from relief committees and public bodies for financial assistance for those who have suffered as a result of the epidemic. The policy which lias been laid down throughout lias been that money expended by public bodies in the establishment ol' emergency hospitals with the approval of the Hospitals Boards of the district would bo recouped. This has implied the necessity of paying some of the workers who have been engaged in discovery and relief work. A large number has patriotrieally and nobly volunteered for the work without thought of payment. At the beginning of the epidemic it was laid down that money was to be no object so far as securing the effective treatment of and preventing the spread of the disease were concerned. This policy has been literally carried out by the Government.

It should he understood, however, said the Alinister, that while flaying the cost on the lines laid down, the Government cannot possibly accept any such principle as paying compensation, either for loss of employment, or loss of business incurred through the epidemic. No such proposal has ever been passed by any Parliament in the world so far as lie is aware. In many cases throughout the Dominion persons havt kindly placed their motor-cars at tin disposal of relief organisations foi transport purposes, and wherever application lias been made the Government lias agreed to supply petrol for this purpose. In addition, very large sums have been expended by the Government on citrus fruits, medicines, and oil everything possible that would cut down the cost. The Minister thinks that in paying the cost of the actual relief, and for medical nursing, and hospital services the Government is going as far as it can be reasonably asked to go. The responsibility for tbe public lies upon the local authorities, and it will be their business to shoulder entirely the whole responsibility of sanitary, hygenie and other work involved in cleaning their cities and towns for the purpose of subduing the epidemic. In connection with this phase of the subject, enormous asistance has been given by the Defence Department in supplying equipment from their stores for many of the emergency hospitals that have been established. The policy that -has been laid down is that in all cases application for repayment of costs incurred must he forwarded through the hospital of the district, which, as far as possible, will be requested to certify to the accuracy of the accounts. To show the necessity of keeping a tight rein in connection with matters of this kind, Afr R ussoll mentioned that one of the relief committees of Wellington had sent into the department an account for £lO3 for motor-hire, alleged to be payable to one firm alone.