PAEROA HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5384, 6 February 1929, Page 2

PAEROA HOSPITAL.

BOARD MEETS MINISTER. ■OPPOSITION WITHDRAWN. A satisfactory conclusion to the dispute concerning the Paeroa hospital was reached at Thames yesterday, when the new Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, and the Director-General of Health, Dr. T. A. Valintine, met the members qf the Thames Hospital Board, Mr A. MSamuel, M.P., was also present. All the board members were present with the exception of Messrs P. E. Brenan ami W. J. Hall. Mr, AV. E. Hale; welcomed the Minister on his first official visit to the district, and expressed U’c thanks of t'he board for the very live interest he had taken in the; subsidy question so saqn after taking office. The Minister said that he found it desirable to meet the hoispita] boards to enable him to ge(t a thorough grip of their local problems. It was al" ways, a pleasure to meet the men wh.q were giving their time to public service, Hospital boards were rendering a very fine service, and though at times their decisions did n«t provoke unanimity throughout their districts, the department was content to leave many nroblqms to the local effqrt, which was in close touch with local affairs. He believed that local government played a greater part in promoting the welfare of the people than did State government, and in this was supported by other members of. the Cabinet. It was therefore desirable and necessary that the State Departments and the members of local bodies should, work harmoniously together and in thorough cooperation. While the hospital boards, were fully in touch with local affaiis the Government was in the best position to judge the economic, merits of cases. He had found the officers of his department to be men of vision, men of parts, and men of outstanding ability, whose names would be well remembered .when- the history of the Health Department came to be written. The depaitment was veTy fortunate in having at its head such a man as Dr. Valintine, who had been associated with it from its inception. In regard to the board’s subsidy, which he had authorised', this was his first official act, and Dr. Valintine was fully in accord' with what, he had done. He was glad that his action was appreciated. Mr Hale said that the board had little to bring before the department. The Thames hospital district was a slmall one, and consequently the rates wer.e high. If the Minister desired to discuss the Paeroa hospital the board would' be pleased to do so. The Minister said he understood that tlie board was reluctant to meet the progress payments for the Paeroa hospital when they became due. He had rather hoped that he; would find the board now willing tq fall in with the department’s views. ■Mr Hale said'he could not give that assurance at present. Dr. Valintine said it was unfortunate that, the Minister had been brought into the trouble. He wa§. absolutely blamelqss, being compromised' by the utteran -es and actions of his predecessor. Under the circumstances he was prepared to face the; bCjard and fight the matter out, but he would suggest that the Minister be left out otf the row alto* gether. The Minister, remarked that the past could be ignored beyond the facts that a decision to build the hospital had been reached and a contract let. The board would not sug-> gest that the contract be stcppefl—surely I He would like to know just What was in the board's mind, and what it could suggest.

Mr Hale recalled that from previous experience he did not see; that any finality could be reached- bv a conference between the board and' D>*. Valintine. He did not like to involve the Minister, but realised that without him the matter could not be settled. In settling up, the department w®ulcl have to accept a share of the responsibility. It had put liabilities on to the betard, and it was his duty to watch the interests, of the ratepayers. Maternity homes were a heavy liability, and. it was inadvisable for country hospitals to undertake such responsibilities However, the department had forced the Paeroa hospital on to .the board, and he would suggest that the diepartinent complete; the Paeroa hospital and run it for five years toi prove its figures. At the end of that time he would, if he had any say, 'have the beprd take over the institution. Mr W. C. Kennedy maintained that the board shoiildl be fair. The board; had agreed to build the hospital, had l).ad plans prepared, and it was only when the department raised the question of speeding a. little more fqr a brick building that oppositon was started. Since then it had grolwn with the election of the new board. Mr J. W. Danby expressed the considered judgment of the; board that the present was not an opportune time for the provision of a hospital at Paeroa. It was only 40 minutes* motor journey from the Thames Hospital and maternity annexe; while 13 miles eastward there was a. wellequipped hospital at Wai hi. He asked if there was any precedent in New Zealand for such Overcrowding. The Minister : Unfortunately, there are many.

■Mr Danby : Then why add another case.

Continuing, Mr Danby pointed o.ut that the movement for the Paeroa hospital had extended over a great mufiber of years, and in all that time there had never been a conference of all the interested parties . A hospital at Paerqa was not warranted on a popu'latioin basis. If it what of Te A ro 'ha, which was half as big again and was 30 miles from Hamilton. Hq asserted that no evidence of the necessity of a hospital had' ever Come from 'Paeroa.

Mr Danby then quoted figures to show the Cost of maintenance of the hospital. Last year there were 99 registered and. if

every one had been treated at the hospital and all feCjs paid the income would have been £594. At Thames less than half the registered births were in the annexe; and only onethird of the fees were ccillected. Ap" plying these to a Paeroa hos-. pital, he submitted that the annual loss would be from £1250 to £1350, and this would have to be bome by the State and heavily burdtened ratef payers.

The Minister pointed out that provision was being made for a casualty ward.

Mr Danby admitted this, but asked what use would' be; made of it. The Minister said that frc<m the file he gathered that there was a con" siderable body in, favour of a hospital in the past.

Mr Danby agrejed that years ago there was this feeling, but since then opinion had changed and now local bodies representing a: vejry large pro" portion of tlie hospital district had passed resolutions against the; hospi" tai. He wished to know if the building equid be deferred ; if a commis" sjon could be set up to decide whether it was warranted, and if the Government would take the responsibility for maintaining the; hospital for seven years if built.

Mr A. R. Robinson expressed re" gret that Mr Brenan was unable to be present.' He recalled that up to a short time ago the board had unanimously favoured the Paeroa hospital. It was only when the department had held up the board’s action in letting a contract for a building in wood that opposition commenced. When the movement was started the Ohinemurj County Council was the largest contributing authority, and it had not raised objections to expenditure on buildings at Thames, but had backed up the board to its utmost. The speaker quofted cases sliowing the necessity for the provision of facilities fqr attention at Paeroa in refutaton of the statement made by Mt Danby. ,Mr E. L. Walton deprecated the talk of blame and faults. A majority of the board was against the proposal, but it had approached the late Minister and forced a dec,isi'G,n. That, decision having been made, it should not be altered ; but he would support the; suggestion that the department maintain the institution for a period and demonstrate what it would; cost to maintain.

Dr. Valintine suggested that the board accept a loss qn working up to £350 a year and the Government would accept the rest. The Minister said it must be recognised that the services of a hospital could not be reckoned in pounds shillings and pence. If a life was saved a hospital would bq considered wqrth all the money in the world. The maternal mortality rate in. New Zealand was double that in Denmark, and only by the provision of mate;rn-. ity hospitals would this'appalling fact b,e altered. He did not like the attitude of those who reckoned the cost against the provision of essential facilities which would to some extent relieve human suffering. The board had led the public to bejlieve that a hospital, would be built in Paeroa, and it had, collected rates and accepted money fqr the purpose. He could not therefore alter the decision : it would not be fair to the public, When he came into office t'he contract had been let and the w»k started. To stop the; work and pay compensation would possibly , prove more costly than finishing the build-, ing. The board had fathered the scheme, and was now divided on the subject. It had suggested a commission oif inquiry, but he would point out that he had all the evidence before him in the file, and to sqt up a commission wquld be evidence of weakness on his part. He did not think the board was fair in withdrawing nqw, seeing that it had started the sphejme and carried it on until recently. The responsibility was the board’s, and if there jvas some financial loss the board should put against it the benefit to the community. Concerning the suggestion that the department should run the institution, he would urge the board not to push this aspect. In conclusion, the Minister, urged; the board to adopt a broad view, and “let the d e ifid past bury its dead.” If experience proved that the deficiency on the Paeroa hospital was ex'cessivq the board coulfl make application to the Government and he was sure the request would be givqn careful consideration.

Mr Danby asked the Minister to reconsider the recommendation of. the Directqr-Genqral. Dr. Valintine estimated the loss to be £7OO per annum, and he recommended that, the ratepayers bear half and the State; bear half.

Mr Walton asked the Minister to give a definite decision in writing, so that in years to come the board would 'have something definite to base a claim qn if one was made. The Minister suggested that the board’s request be stated in a resolution, and accordingly Mr Walton moved:—

“That thq Thames Hospital Board withdraws its opposition to the building of the Paeroa Hospital, and agrees; to pass the progress payments for its erection and equipment and agrees to take over and run the same, provided the Minister of Health agrees to' pay the difference; in the amount between the income and expenditure of the hospital and above £359 per annum, which lastmentioned' amount the board shall pay.*’

In explaining the motion, the Di-rector-General said that if the; expenditure for one year was £lOOO and the income £3OO, then tine £7OO loss would be shared equally by the ratepayers and the State, but if t'he loss was £BOO a year the ratepayers wquld still contribute £350 and. the State its £350 plus the whole of the loss abqve £7OO.

Mr Hale pointed out that the agreement favoured the department, as the usual rate of subsidy received by the board was £1 2s 5d to the £, whereas the agreement was for a £ for £ subsidy.

Mr Danby raised the question whe-. ther the board had sufficient, cash, in

hand to meet its obligation under the agreement. Mr Hale gave an answer in the affirmative, and the motion was carried unanimously. Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., congratulated the board and the Minister on the satisfactory conclusion' of this longstanding dispute;. He was sure it would meet with approval throughout the whole of the board’s district.

Dr. Valintine expressed pleasure at the conclusion of- the difficulty and congratulated the board on coming to an agreement. For his part he would heep an eye on the c.ost of the institution and his officers wcjuld do their utmost to assist the; board. Tire board’s resolution was signed by the Minister and the board chairman as a binding agreement, between the two parties. '