FEES NOT PAID

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1929, Page 5

FEES NOT PAID

BY MAORI. HOSPITAL PATIENTS. (By Telegraph—Presa Association); WELLINGTON, Sept. 5. The difficulties which some Hospital Boards, ■ and notably those in the Northern, .districts, experience; in the collection of fees from: Maori patients were explained; to Sir. Joseph 'Ward by a big ' dcputation from'(tlieirlilospital Boards’ Association’ to-dny; .Sir Joseph. Ward pointed .out that the Government had. no . fund on which 1 it : could draw, in order to supplement the post of natives’ hospital; treatment. ;He sympathised . with the Association, which in an awkward position..- He would see if he. could effect, some means of .enabling the Boards to get. money out of their clients. ' ' » -• ■, . Asked if a grant, could not! be made from the Maori Purposes Fund, the Premier said that he would have' to look into that'.. Ho did not .knpw how. these funds were! drawn upon:/ Hon Hr ,Stallworthy remarked that the burden, did not ..fall entirely on the Boards on the basis of two years’ deficiency, there was a shortage of £16,000 a year, .and the Government already bad provided half th.pt. Government actually paid , ciut year £17.000 for Maori sanitation ana health purposes, which was | ; higher sum than the Boards had topfindAn hospital fee defaults. ;V: . : ' ./. 1