HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION
HOR OWHENUA COUNTY COUNCIL VIEWS.
At Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council, when [lie Hospital Board’s levy was under discussion it was pointed out that the levy on the Horowhenua County was £4207 15s fid, consist ing of £631 18s 4d capital levy and £3575 17s 2d for maintenance. Last year the levy on the county was £3446 13s 2d.
The chairman (Cr. G. A. Monk) who is a member of the Hospital Board, explained the cause of the increases which were (1) increased patients; (2) increased charitable aid; (3) the building of the Maternity Home; and (4) the taking over of the Otaki Hospital. The levies were made on the capital value, the chairman continued; but practically half the number of patients were from the town of Palmerston North —namely, 46 per cent. It was the Palmerston North Borough which had complained so bitterly of the cost. He would suggest that this Council frame a remit for the Counties’ Conference in the direction of altering the system of levies, so that, instead of being based on capital, partly on the capital value and partly on population. In Palmerston North the levy under that proposal would certainly be increased; but when it was considered that that town was receiving over 40 per cent, of the benefit, it was quite apparent that that was the portion of the district that should bear the burden. At present the proportion of maintenance collected from Palmerston North was less than from the other districts. He was sorry to have to raise the question of Palmerston North, but that Borough had been rather hard on the members of the Board. As far as the Board was concerned, the chairman concluded, it was an efficient Board and was endeavouring to give efficient service at a minimum of cost. He paid a compliment to the managing secretary (Mr. A. J. Phillipps) who was keenly alive to the interests of the Board and who endeavoured to keejo down the cost to the ratepayers. '*
Cr. Catley: “The figures show’ that it is one of the most economically administered institutions of its kind in New Zealand.”
Cr. Barber: “It seems it is pretty bulky as a Board.”
• The Chairman: “The cost of the members does not amount, to much.”
Cr. Barber: “You have 17 to 20 members, if not more.” The Chairman: “Well, you have a democratic representation, and it is a very brave man nowadays who will suggest that you cut that down and make it autocratic.”
Cr. Ryder: “1 agree with the chairman that we have a most effi cient secretary. I really think today that that institution is run on as economical lines as possible.” Cr. MeLeavey objected to the large amount of the County’s quota of the Board’s expenditure, which meant that it was costing the County about £3OO for each patient sent from the district.
Cr. Kilsby expressed the opinion that some fresh legislation should he brought down calling upon Palmerston North to pay a larger share towards the cost of running the hospital. The levy had been increased each year, and it was impossible to say where the increase was going to end. “We shall have paid sufficient money from our County to run a hospital of our own,” he added.
The Chairman: “The counties have long felt that there has been an undue burden on them, and they have advocated, for some time, a system of levying partly on capital value and partly on population, instead of always on capital value. I think the iCounc.il would be quite justified in submitting a remit on those lines to the Counties’ Conference this year. The contention that more people from the country districts go into private hospitals because they are moi'e easily available is quite true*. Although we have a rising levy, there is a justification for that so far as the Board is concerned, provided that the law remains as it is to-day. Wo are there to administer the law as we find it. If you' are not satisfied with the law, you have to take means to try to have it altered.”
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3793, 17 May 1928, Page 3
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692HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3793, 17 May 1928, Page 3
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