HOSPITAL FUSION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4851, 10 July 1925, Page 3

HOSPITAL FUSION.

THAMES AND WAIHI BOARDS. representatives confer. A conference of representatives of the Waihi and Thames Hospital Boards was held in the County Council Chambers, Paeroa, on Wednesday to discuss .matters affecting the control and finances of the district hospital and the suggested amalgamation of the Waihi and Thames hospital dsitricts. Dr, M. H. Watt, acting Director-General: of Health, presided over the following: Messre P- BBrenan (Paeroa Borough Council), A. R. Robinson (O|iinemuri County Council), W. C. Kennedy (Piako County Council), W. E. Hale, J, W. Danby, iuind J. Lange (chairman and members of the Thames Hospital Board), J. E. Slevin, Col. Jowsey, E. Morgan, S; M. Brown, S. R. Richards, and Mrs Mae Williams (chairman and members of the Waihi Hospital Board; W. M. Wallnutt and G. Tonge (secretaries of Waihi and Thames boards, respectively) 1 and-J. von Keisenberg (secretary of the Hospital Boards Conference),. ' i In opening the proceedings Dr,

Watt briefly outlined the work that had been done in connection with the proposed amalgamation, which had • been under consideration since 1921, and stated that in his opinion amalgamation of the two districts was desirjble, especially if the care of patients ’"was .to be considered.

The chairman, then read extracts from letters which had passed between Dr, T. A. Valintine (DirectorGeneral of Hospitals) and the chairmen of the Thames and Waihi hospital boards. It was pointed out that if Waihi continued as at present it would lose about £lBOO, and the adjustment of finances was a factor requiring - careful consideration. , The chairman mentioned that a definite expression of opinion was desirable, as Parliament was now sitting and the matter could be placed before .the Minister with a request for legislation to give effect to amalgamation during the present session. Mr J. E. Slevin, chairman of the Waihi board, outlined the policy suggested by his board and pointed out that he believed an amalgamation was desirable in order that the (status ot the hospital should not be lowered. Mr W. E. Hale, chairman of the Thames board,’thanked Dr. Watt and his officers for the consideration given *. to the project, and said that his, board - took part in the conference with an open mind on the matter. The question of a merger was .a serious feature, and he was of the opinion that to carry it into effect would only increase the burden on contributing local bodies. -Thames was noW a dying mining town, and it had proved a ‘" very expensive town to the board. Mr A. R. Robinson said that many cases from the Thames district had gone into the Waihi hospital, but he thought the majority were from the Waihi riding of the Ohinemuri CountJ ln answer to the chairman Dr. Cole said that in two years out of 812 patients treated at Waihi 210 were from the Thames hospital district. Mr W. C. Kennedy" said that some years ago he had pointed out that the annual charge levied by the Waihi board for the treatment of patients from outside the district was far too low. If a fusion was brought about lie thought that the whole district should be controlleit by the Thames '''board. Mr S. M. Brown said it was recognised that-it a patient applied for admittance at a hospital it could not be refused; but why, for instance, did the Paeroa doctors invariably send patients to the Waihi institution. In reply, Dr. Cole said that it had become largely a matter of practice. The fees at Waihi were less than at Thames, and the road to Waihi was in a better condition. Mr J. W. Danby said he recognised that something should Be done to give Waihi relief, but, personally, he was

opposed to the merger so long as * Waihi continued to press for amalgamation without any lowering of its ~ status. The present boundaries of the two boards had been reconsidered some years ago, and had been agreed on and endorsed by the Waihi board as fair and equitable. An additional halfpenny rate would be necessary in the .event of the merger. Already two of the contributory local bodies to the Thames board were unable to meet the. hospital rates and had been forced to seek the protection of tne Finance Act, He fail.ed to see how a»iy additional rate for hcjspital purposes was going to be met. A readjustment of bbundaiies and rating areas was infinitely preferable to amalgamation. The speaker quoted figures -showing that a large sum of outstanding fees to the Waihi board should be recoverable. He suggested that the Waihi board could effect considerable saving by a closet scrutiny of its domestic finances.

The chairman said that in regard to the alternative proposals, mentioned by Mr Dauby he hoped they, would not be considered until the merger question had been thoroughly dealt with. He thought the Thames members had agreed that the Waihi hospital had served the needs of the Thames dis; trict.. He agreed that the fees charged by the Waihi board were too low, and was also prepared to admit that it mignt very well economise in the purchase of stores and the administration charges. -Mr J. von Heisenberg, inspecting accountant of’ the department, stated that through his knowledge of the finances of both boards he considered amalgamation would be an advantage to the Thames board. The Thames board had to look at. the whole position from a financial viewpoint, because it was cetrain that the Waihi board would not continue to contribbute £125 a year for the treatment of patients from the Rahn Road area. He could not see that the object of the merger was to spread additional’Utt*

bility over an already heavily rated district. Mr Slevin stated that years ago the Waihi board had made an effort to extend its boundaries, but at that time the Thames board and Dr, T. A. Valintine had strenuously opposed the suggsetion. Mr Hale replied that the Thames board had no knowledge of the Waihi board desiring to extend its area. Mr Brown pointed out that the Waihi board had recently raised its fees to £3 3s a week to patients from outside its district. The chairman mentioned that in the event of the merger the Thames board would be the controlling body. Colonel Jowsey detailed the arrangement that existed between the Waimate and South Canterbury Hospital Boards, which were amalgamated some little time ago. To-day things were working admirably. In reply to Dr. Watt Mr Hale said that the Thames board was very loathe to enter into the amalgamation. Waihi was a mining town, and the population was -steadily decreasing. He had nothing further to add to the reply previously sent to the department on the matter. ~ Mr E.-Morgan drew attention to the fact that the farming industry on the Waiiii Plains was increasing each year, and closer settlement, throughout the district was becoming evident.

Mr P. E. Brenan said he was opposed to the merger, but with others he recognised that something would have to be done for Waihi, and he would ask the chairman what the departments view was on the matter.

The chairman stated that his department favoured amalgamation, but it also had other proposals to put before the conference in the event of the merger proposition not being carried. The departmental view relative to the amalgamation was: (1) The immediate need of relieving the financial position of the AVaihi Borough Council as the contributory local authority; (2) Thames and Waihi to consider merging of districts as the more equitable and practical course; (3) continuation of the present status of the Waihi Hospital; (4) formation of a local committee; (5) increasing .the rateable capital value of Waihi Borough in the matter of the amount to be levied by £9O for every £1 received by way of gold duty and gold revenue ; (6) amalgamation to come into force on April 1, 1926. After the luncheon adjournment the chairman intimated that the Thames board had held a meeting, and he called on Mr Hale to address the gathering. Mr Hale said that his board was in favour of the Waihi board having its ditsrict extended, but would only agree to an extension provided there was also an .adjustment of the Thames territory by giving Thames the Te Aroha Borough and the Waihou Riding, at present in the Waikato hospital district. Mr Slevin said that it was the unanimous wish of the Waihi board to have its boundaries extended rather than amalgamate. His board had advocated that step for yeans. Mr Danby said that the rateable value of 'the WaikinQ riding was £46,762, Waitekauri riding £26,025, and Waihi Plains £74,171. As the total value of the area proposed to be handed over to the Waihi board was nearly £150,000, it was only reasonable that the Thames board should be allowed a readjustment of territory by the inclusion of the Te Aroha borough and a portion of the WaillOU riding. That area could be served equally as well by the Thames board as by the Waikato board. Mr von Keisenberg explained that the offer, of the Thames board would not afford much lelief to the Waihi board unlesp it revised its fees, cut down outdoor relief, and stiffened up its -system of collection of outstanding fees. Dr. Watt said he believed that the conference would get no further. It was evident that the Thames board solidly opposed the merger scheme, and he would suggest that the Thames board return to its district, hold a meeting, and then forward its proposals to the department as early as possible for consideration.

If amalgamation was not acceptable to the Thames board, continued the chairman, then Waihi would have to proceed under section 72 of the Hospitals Act, which enabled the board to recover full costs for all relief and fees from the board of the district ih which the patients resided, and also to fellow out the suggestions made by Mr von Keisenberg relative to administration expenses and collection of fees. There was also another alternative in that the extension of the boundaries of both hospital districts might receive consideration.

Dr. Watt thanked the members for attending, find congratulated them on the amicable manner in which the whole position had been discussed. On the motion of Colonel Jowsey a vote of thanks was accorded Dr. Watt and Mr von Keisenberg for attending and placing the department’s views before the conference.