HOSPITAL DISTRICTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4505, 18 December 1922, Page 3

HOSPITAL DISTRICTS.

/ THAMES AND WAIHI. ADJUSTMENT OF ACCOUNTS. At the last meeting of the Thames Hospital Board a letter was received from the Waihi board relating to the proposed annual payment. M “In reply to yours of September 27 last relative to the board’s suggestion that an annual subsidy of £250 would be .a fair method of adjusting accounts 'between us, and *.to your board’s counter offer of £125, as set out in your letter,, I am instructed to state that the board has fully considered your offer, and is of opinion U that it is .far top low. The board thinks that its suggestion pf £250 is’ ‘ a fair offer, ’and really on the small side and which does not cover the cost of maintenance of 1% patients for a yean PrMtfcally a third off our patients hail from your district. The board claims that the offer in the circumstances is a reasonable one, and is prepared to submit the settlement of same t.o the DirpctOil-General (Dr. T. Valentine) for his: decision. Would , you please Inform me at the earliest convenience whether, your board will agree to this ?” Mr Johnstone thought the Waihi figure tob high. Mr Kennedy was of the opinion that the Waihi offer was reaspiiable. It. was not a reciprocal arrangement in • any way. Waihi would pay for any patients treated in Waiihi. He thought the rate in the district affected would cover the amount. The proposal to have an arbitrator would be quite all right. Mr Brenan asked who collected the fees frpni patients treated in Waihi. The chairman: They do. The .Board’s offer o 0 £125 was to cover £ patients' who coilld. not pay. >!-■ Mr Brenan: What isi the annual claim? The secretary said thpt it came to

£ll7 per .annum for the past three years. It was' stated that .the Waihi Board chapged this Board at the rate of 3s. a day. Mr Kennedy urged that as the .Thames Hospital Board district surrounded Waihi borough, it would to unreasonable to expect residents there to come to Thames. Mr Brena'n said that he had some sympathy with the Waihi. Board, because the geographical position made the matter a difficult one. However, it was a business affair, and the offer made by this Board covered the annual charge. In order to arrive at a settlement he would move that the' offer —a final one— should be increased to £lso'. The chairman said that in making the offer they took into consideration the ambunt paid -for the past three years. It would give the Waihi Board the right .to collect what fees it could from patients. That would place the Waihi Board in a much better position. Personally he felt that the Thames offer was a very fair one, made tp secure a settlement. Mr Kennedy urged that the offer should be raised to £175. He .was convinced that the Waihi Board was endeavouring to dp the right thing. Mr Robinson seconded ,the proposal, but Messrs Death and Mackay strongly opposed the Thotion. The chairman said that at the conference the Waihi Board chairman mentioned £2OO. The amount had been advanced £5O. The motion was defeated. Mr Kennedy moved an amendment accepting the proposal to submit, tne matter to arbitration.

Mr Robinson said that apparently Mr Kennedy was advocating the claims of Waihi, and expected the arbitrator to give the Waihi hosiptal more than this' board had offered. Mr Kennedy denied this. The arrangement would benefit the people at Waikino and on the Waihi Plains. Mr Death; moved that £125 should be final. It was a fair 'offer, for it was sufficient tocoVer the payment for patients at Waikino. Mr Johnstone seconded Mr Death’s amendment, which was carried.— Thames Star.