The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, MARCH 18th, 1922. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, MARCH 18th, 1922. THE WEEK.

The rebellious outbreak in South Africa which was a result of the labor troubles on the Rand took a, very serious turn during the week. The leaders of the Reds took a very warlike action and as a result there was a complete hold up of the business of the country in the portion affected. The strong attitude taken up by Mr Smuts and his government, to ensure law and order being respected has had its effect and thanks to the support given by the large moderate portion of the community, the outbreak has received a decisive check and is now practically killed. The preparations made by the loaders of the rebellion show, however, a deeprooted movement against the carrying on of sane government, but the strong prompt measures of the Government lias quelled the outbreak before it got a hold. The rebellion had to be severely smashed and it is unfortunate that many innocent people had’ to suffer injury therefrom. The news to hand show the danger has now passed and the country is reverting back to a normal state after a week of madness on the part of a small extremist portion of the Rand district, who probably have hud a lesson given them that should have an, educative effect of such a natives that a recurrence of the recent trouble will not be likely in the early future.

Mr. T. M. Win ford, the leader of Die opposition who has been visiting Canterbury during the week has expressed himself as delighted with the reception that he has had in Christchurch. “1 always knew,” said Mr Wdl'ord

“that the Conservative Party had little or no hold on this city ? but I have never realised until this visit, made in an official capacity, the strength of the opposition to the present Government. It is keen alert and evident everywhere. I have found a readiness and willingness to assist me in every section of the community. The formation of an organisation here was simplicity itself, and the meetings which I have already held forming a working organisation' for the coming elections have been marked by enthusiasm and earnestness. The old Liberal organisation, which has uot functioned for )

■ some time only required calling together to become n real force. 1 hnye visited, with Mr Forbes, tiie Senior Whip of liie party, the suburbs of Christchurch, and have interviewed those likely to assist in our work of organisation, and have met with the readiest response on all sides. There may be many supporters of Mr Massey in Christchurch — 1 do not deny it—but I do state that such supporters do not make themselves evident, nor do they evince any readiness to show their colour to-day. There are probably good reasons for this. I was much struck with the tone of the business section of the community, those with whom I. discussed the political situation expressing themselves a s only waiting an opportunity to bring about a change of Government. 1 shall return to Christchurch to meet the organisation already constituted after laying the foundation of a good organisation in the south.”

Tub Department of Health has circular lised all hospital hoards suggesting the adoption of an uniform scale of fees for hospital treatment throughout New Zealand The proposal is to - charge £3 3S Weekly .'to those who can pay it, but friendly societies are to be allowed the privilege of treatment for their members at half rates, as in the opinion of the Department it pays the Boards to make an arrangement which guarantees payment of the reduced fee and saves bad debts, as very few of the persons who will benefit from the reduced scale could afford the full fee. Attention was called by the Hospital Commission to tile low fees charged by different boards and also the extreme variations in the charges.“ The low fees charged for members of friendly societies” said the commission, notably Auckland 2s 3d per day, and North Canterbury Is 7d per day, seem quite inadequate, and bad business for the boards.” In recommending the boards to charge 9s per day 0 r £3 3s per week with half fees for friendly society members and children uiidep tWelve, the Department states that this approximates to the present average maintenance cost: ‘A uniform fee is desirable rather than that each hospital should charge its own approximate cost of treatment” says the Department in its comment on the new scale, which it has introduced into its own institutions. It. goes on to say that unless uniformity is introduced a patient might receive hospital treatment at say £2 10s a week and shortly afterwards receive similar treatment in a smaller hospital which would be unable to afford him such skill or specialised treatment, but would possibly charge him £4 45.” To those who object that a uniform fee of three guineas is too high, it might be pointed out that though this might represent the average maintenance cost of hospitals, v et the capital cost and other overhead charges are not taken into account, neither are bad debts and it would require every debt to be a good dim for tlm institution to begin ti pay its' way ; Further, the fees can always be reduced to those who are unable to pav. whereas a lower fee could not be raised in the case of those able to pay a higher rate.” It is not proposed to continue the system of hospital boards charging one another reduced fees. There seems no reason, states the Department, in the event of a patient from “M” district seeking treatment in ”N” district hospital, why “M” district should pay only half the rate, leaving the burden of the other half to be divided between the ratepayers of the other districts and the Government. Each district should bear the burden of its own indigent patients.” The Department does not anticipate that the change will meet with anything but general approval. ‘'Hospitals have ceased to he merely charitable institutions, but are recognised as being institutions for the treatment of those who cannot afford the cost of treatment in private hospitals. A working man does not wish to receive charity. He asks for a fair wage and to pay for the treatment he receives. T! ,- joining a friendly society he l'OmOyes himself from all taint of charity.”

By the Hospitals Amendment Act o last session, an important change wa brought about in the system of finance for hospital hoards. The day of lonj overdrafts lias passed, and contributory local authorities are to he kepi more up. to the mark in their payments, according to a survey of th< new system published by the Department of Health. A return obtained showing tlie financial position of hospital boards in New Zealand at December 15th last -showed that £186,00( was outstanding in the shape of advances from the Department or overdrafts from the hank. With threequarters of the financial year gone, says the Department, all advances on accounts of subsidies should have been wiped off. From a dose scrutiny of the returns -it appears that about one half the boards will be “on the wrong side of the fence” at the end of their financial year, and this in every instance owing to the fact that the local levies have not been paid. The Department urges these bodies to endeavour to finish, up the year “all square,” a-ud goes on to show howi the machinery of the new Act will enable this to ho done. The Act provides that levies from local authorities shall he paid monthly or quarterly, with interest charged on levies overdue, thus

making the defftulting loctll Authority carry th« interest on overdraft rather than the hospital hoard of the district. which lias to hear this cost at present. The Act also provides that levies due constitute a debt which can he sued for in the Courts, and that the amount of unpaid contributions may he deducted by the Minister of Finance from subsidies payable to the contributory local authorities. Hospital hoards are urged to take advantage of these provisions and ensure prompt payment of their levies. There is legislative provision for a board to obtain from the Minister of Health ail advance on account of future Subsidy where there is a deficiency in its estimates, hut the Department suggests that lief ore his power is used, it will require a satisfactory explanation of the reasons that led to such a contingency.