Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1926, Page 2

In connection with 'hospital management/ boards appear to lose a lot of revenue annually by “non-paying patients.” The experience is not singular in this district. It is dominion wide, and no adequate remedy appears to be attempting to deal with the matter. In former days a lax system grew up, and baa been perpetuated. The leakage has a serious oiled on the revenue, and the generous treatment falls in the end on the taxpayer and ratepayer, who have to make up the deficit in lie hospital funds as between revenue and expenditure. One of the matters referred to by Dr MncKaehern in liis reeeut report, was that greater public interest should he taken in the hospitals in Xew Zealand. If that were so, there might he closer attention given to the collection of income, which with the fine institutions now available for the sick, is very faithfully earned. In his report the visiting expert advocated what he describes as community hospitals, which will provide for every class of the population and attract liberal gifts from, the public. In Britain the hospitals are purely charitable institutions, supported entirely by voluntary contributions or bequests, and provide for poor patients who pay nothing. In this country tlie funds for hospitals conic from the taxes and the rates, and voluntary contributions are practically negligible. Ihe charges made do not cover the costs of maintenance, and not more than half the amounts due from patients are collected. There are many who maintain that because they pay rates and taxes they should have the right to be admitted to the hospitals and pay charges which, while insufficient to cover maintenance, allow for no doctors’ fees or chemists’ bills. It is obviously unreasonable that people in comfortable circumstances should avail themselves of this sort ot charitable aid, though it is justified on the ground that it is a democratic arrangement—yet it is certainly democracy gone mad. for if it were a general practice, taxes and rates would soar to breaking point, and the revulsion of public feeling would end the system. There is the obligation as there is tile duty upon the management to collect patients’ fees, and a regular system on closer lines than hitherto attempted .should he enforced. It seems to he tlm practice to allow foes to accumulate indefinitely, before reviewing a ease or cases, rather than guaging the position before the individual amounts soar too high. It is manifest that if fees were pressed for at an earlier stage in the indebtedness, better results would accrue. Some change in the easy going system now prevailing might be tried at least. It is a matter of very great interest to those who finally have to foot the bill—the taxpayers and the ratepayers. They are the chopping block on all occasions in .regard to public administration and ■where relief can lie afforded then it should be attempted. The avenue referred to seems to afford a way to do

It was mentioned this week that flax growing for profit was coming greatly into vogue. In the North Island several large companies are being promoted to that end, and the publicity agents on the question are giving forth much information extolling the worth of the undertaking. Hero on the "West Coast with the range of swampy

lands, where already flax has installed itself naturally, there should he a wide field for expansion, if the cultivation of flax were taken up enthusiastically. The natural conditions would in themselves he very helpful. It i.s said that New Zealand flax is the most valuable fibre plant in the whole world. On this point a writer says that it far exceeds, even iu an uneulfivated state, any other fibre plant in production per acre. With selection planting and cultivation its full value will he realised to the benefit of the country. A new era has been opened up with the realisation by practical men of flic value of selection of high fibre content-" varieties, planting, cultivation, and improved methods of handling the raw product of hemp—the flax leaf. It is being predicted That tlie cultivation of flax is the coining primary industry. It is said uncultivated New Zealand flax yields per acre ten to twenty-five tails of leaf or one to three tons of hemp. On the other hand cultivated flax can he made to produce forty-five to fifty-five tons per acre of leaf, equal to five to seven tons of hemp. If the hemp business is thus placed on scien-tific-lines. and cultivation becomes general, there is the possibility of an enormous production within New Zealand. It seems to he the readiest means at hand to ensure a rapid and substantial increase in the primary products, and irregular weather in the seasons will not have a serious dctoi-l-ent effect on productions. As regards a market for the product, the Government grader is credited with the icmark that “the best thing about flax cultivation is that there will novel he any glut in the market—overseas markets wilt eagerly snap up every pound we can produce.” As the matter stands i't would appear profitable to devote special attention to the growing of flax. There is much territory in Westland suitable for the purpose. T he recurring prolific growth of tlax in the district suggests that altontFon to many swampy areas would bring an expansion of the growth and the product. It would he well for the farmers and others who might lie concerned ill the matter to seek for the fullest information as to the more systematic growth of flax as a means for additional in come, for from all accounts there appears to he a fine opening to ensure a very profitable industry locally to consume the product.