HOSPITAL BOARDS CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1925, Page 1

HOSPITAL BOARDS CONFERENCE.

Fi.F.t T!OX OF OFFJCFIiS. [iiv tei.kcitArii —rmt press association.] AITIvLAND. May 27. Mr Wallace was elected ns the first President of the Association hy the unanimous vote ol the (Vmlerence. Mr ('. M. Luke Wellington), Mill. ,|. Utley (North Canlerlniry). and Mr W. K niplii .Canterbury), were elected vice-presidents. The executive are:—.Messrs \\ ratliall ■Wanganui h .1. D. Andrews (llawkes Lay). .). 11. McCarroll (Kaipara). F. (Ji Handers Maweru). and C. Heed Ashburton:. The Conference resolved that the Association is ot opinion that hospitals should lie available to all who claim admission, and that all that the Medical Practitioners should be concerned with is whether the physical condition of a patient is such as to make him a in subject for hospital treatment, ami whether he should benefit thereby. Aii Increased scale of fees from 9s t,, |o* a <lay was submitted, hy the Kxcuitive. It was rejected by an overwhelming majority, the opinion being expressed that if an increase was made I lie Hoards would not recover as much as thev are now doing from the patients. h was decided to support the Department's proposal to repeal Section 72 of the Act. referring to payment by patients sent to metropolitan hospitals. In addition, it was recommended to the Department that a subsidy should be era it led the metropolitan boards. A letter was read from the .Minister of Health congratulating the Association. on its formation, and wishing it - Kai Ora." :Mr Maui l’omare re-a,-oiled that pressure «f Govern men l business prevented bis attendance at the opening ot the conlerence. but hoped to put in an appearance before its conclusion. A letter was also received from the American Hospital Association, wishing the New Zealand body every success. The conference proceeded to the amendment of the rules. A motion to add to Rule 3, that any Board must ,-ivc twelve months notice of its intention to discontinue membership of the Association, was challenged by Mr Prvde (Southland), who desired the period to be fixed at three months, but the motion was carried on the voices. The amended rules provide that tinannual subscriptions of a. memlier of a board should he based on uniform percentage of its maintenance expenditure, calculated at one-fifteenth per cent. The- .delegates voting powers shall be based on one vote for every 50.000 of each hoard’s popnaltion.