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Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1930, Page 4

To the average ratepayer it probably seems most possible that under the suggested changes in th f e hospital system, the rates must rise. As the matter stands, the ratepayers have to meet a considerable burden in the way of direct taxation through local rates to meet- the cost of hospital management, as well as indirect taxation through the consolidated fund, for the Government share of hospital maintenance. The greatest relief which could fall to the ratepayer would be that the State take over the sole control of the hospitals in conjunction with the business of the public health. Property holders, i'n particular, are charged with a special share of the cost of the hospitals, and in the main . are not the class from which the general patients of the institution are drawn. There is thus a heavy class impost put unon an important section of the community.' Under the community system the cost of hospital management must rise very substantially. The change will mean more patients, more accommodation and more staff, with a general advance in the cost- of overhead expenses for administration. Under the present system, half the extra cost, in round figures, will fall on the local bodies which in turn would have to pass the additional demands on to the ratepayers in further rating. And it is not clear that the public advantage will be served to any better degree on the score of economy in public administration the community system does not present any attractions, and the individual advantage which might be gained can be obtained actually now bv the patient selecting his medi-

cal man at free will. Ratepayers will agree in the aggregate that the existing system is quite costly enough. Appeals in the past to throw the cost of hospital administration entirely on the consolidated fund, have failed, as tlie changing governments have all been glad to have the financial help oi me people, and their practical cooperation in the internal management of the institutions. With the present stringency in general finance, such a change is less likely than ever, and in fact any change at this juncture would be rather impolitic. The hospital system has been in vogue long enough now to give it a. very full trial, and of late years it has been working with diminishing friction. In the circumstances, it would be best to leave well alone and rely oir the management inside and outside the institutions to control affairs with due regard to all the interests at stake. If matters are allowed to pursue the even tenor of their way as here suggested, the ratepayers will probably h -ve most reason to be gratified with all round results.