Hospitals Maintenance

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1921, Page 4

Hospitals Maintenance

THE COMMISSION AT CHRISTCHURCH. COUNTY COUNCIL’S CONTRIBUTIONS. Air J. D. Hall, who represented the Selwyn, Alalvern, Paparua, Tawera, Springs, and Halswell County Councils, said that the commission should give all county councils in North Canterbury an opportunity to meet and formulate suggestions for the commission to consider. The method of representation did not follow taxation: Christchurch had six members and contributed £18,058, while Selwyn, Tawera and Alalvern had one member and contributed £5644. If Christchurch paid according to her representation, she would contribute £5644 multiplied by 6, or £33,864, while Lyttelton, Sumner and New Brighton would contribute £5644, instead of £2117. There did not seem to lie any justice in making country districts provide funds to be spent by the city or borough representatives. The present method of assessing contributions was unfair. The amount of contributions was assessed on capital value only, and neither followed the lepresentation, nor was it in accordance with benefits conferred. If the object was to get at the large landowners, whe were excluded by the hospital regula-

tions from any benefits in the wa\ of treatment, and to a great extent excluded the urban capitalist, it must be borne in mind that- the present metnod also hit the rural worker and small bolder, who paid rates and lived under conditions which made the hospital benefit be received more expensive than that of the urban worker. A more equitable way of assessing the contributions would be:—(1) By "ay of a mean between the capital value and the population of the local authorities’ area ; or (2) by ascertaining the cost of treatment per patient in each year, and charging the local authority with the number of patients treated from the respective districts; or, if the contributions were required in advance, to assess the, amount on the number of patients treated in the previous year, and make any necessary adjustment at the end of the year and include it in the next year’s levy. There should lie Government subsidies for capital expenditure. The establishment of pi ivate or paying wards would be supported by the country people as relieving the ratepayers to some extent, am ■ providing a place for treatment for all and also providing a larger scope foi hospital work generally. That woulc

to some extent reduce the amounts required from the Government by way of subsidies, and if it was accompanied by a system of insurance to ensure provision for the care of the sick by means of payment of a premium in the days of health, it might enable boards to dispense with Government subsidies altogether. In reply to Air Triggs, Air Hall said that people in the country recognised that thev had to do something to help

the people in the towns, but the present proportions of contributions were unreasonably against the country. Tho farmer, as always was the case, was being hit first and hit worst. There certainly was a drift from the country to the town. It was worse in Canterbury almost than in any other province. Older people, as well as the young people, were taking part in the drift. In reply to Air Shirtcliffe, Air Hall said that a base hospital in Christchurch was necessary ; the question was bow much the country should pay for it. The Selwyn County Council gave about half of its whole income to the Christchurch Hospital. Its contribution was £2265, and its total revenue was about C4OOO.

In reply to the chairman, Air Hall said that the North Canterbury Hospital Board was the best hospital Board in New Zealand. The people of North Canterbury were very fortunate in the institution in Christchurch, and in the officials attached to it.

The chairman: Of the subsidies to he paid by the Government to the hospital boards, 22 per cent will come from income taxpayers.

Mr Hall: There won’t be any income taxpayers in the country next year, Tiecause we won’t have any incomes.