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Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1924, Page 2

At the Hospital Boards ( 'onference at Wellington which opened on Tuesday, the Minister of Health was not very I constructive in his criticism of the problem of linante nhirli seems to be besetting hospital boards geneially all over the Dominion. He spoke of reducing the number of districts, but this will nut 'I e possible excepting under a [ general scheme of centralisation whereby hospitals become a direct charge on tlie consolidated revenue. The system of districts is the most satisfactory under present conditions whereby levies avp made but by abolishing the districts it would lie possible to do without the levies in a truly national system, which should ho the case with the public health of the Dominion. The (!n----vernment 'has a well equipped department already which functions in a way, controlling; to a great degree the management of the hospitals. Jn many respects the power of veto the department retains, constitutes boards but

committees acting at the behest of the minfrtciial authority. It might he as well to make that authority completely supreme and autocratic by dispensing with tlie boards altogether, and saving a large annual cost for overhead expenses in management. Finance is

the problem of hospital management, and the increase has grown to lie so abnormal that it is a real burden on a Particular fort ion of the eommunitv

the ratepayers. Whether near or far to hospitals, ratepayers have to contribute, with the result that non-pro-perty holders escape payment. And it is mostly where the population is, that the patients are derived. Tn every I such community there is a large percentage of non ratepayers for whom the hospitals are maintained at the expense of others. As part of the scheme governing the public health, the hospitals are essential, and as such should he controlled nationally under the State Department. This transfer of liability would open the way to many economies. If the Minister believes the number of districts could he reduced, he would have the opportunity then to adopt his scheme, in fact to wipe out districts altogether. The number of

Imse hospitals conKl bo controlled also, and expense in that direction could ho saved likewise. As for the patients, certain hospitals could heroine depots for special cases where specialists would he in control, and something done in a more practical way for humanity. The subject opened up is a large one, ami it is important enough for the Government to go into carefully to deteiiuine wlmt might best he done to remedy a position already bristling with difficulties.

Tub suggestion to widen the franchise for election of hospital boai'ls had its foundation no doubt in the desire to more fully democratise the personnel. The Hospital Boat (Is Conference decided to retain the local /bodies and rate-

payers’ qualifications, prompted doubtless from the knowledge that under the system of maintenance uoiv in vogue, the ratepayers have to find about huh the ;ust of hospital aOministratii/ii. Tile other half is found by the State, which, as a quid pro quo, has the right of veto on the principal administrative acts of the hoards. As it is, although the ratepayers arc specially represented by people of their own choice, the cost of the hospitals is mounting up everywhere. A wider franchise, it is feared, proha lily would result in less 10.-ponsihlc representatives being appointed, in which ease the increase in maintenance east would continue to be a growing quantity. At the same time it must I e remembered there is not a great deal of inclination on the pa:t of the ratepayers themselves to contest seats on hospital hoards. The positions go a-begging very often. Perhaps if the seats were contested fur more keenly, public interest in the management would he sharpened more with better all round results.