HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3816, 10 July 1928, Page 2

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION

FOXTON WELL SATISFIED,

BUT SUGGESTS THAT BOARDS COLLECT THEIR OWN RATES.

The Palmerston North Borough Council’s request for a revision of hospital administration did not receive a very sympathetic hearing at last night’s Borough Council meeting. The following letter was read from the Palmerston North Council :

“For some time past the system of Hospital Management and Local Body representation on Hospital Boards has received serious consideration and the Council had come to the conclusion that there was urgent no’ed for concerted action on the part of all contributing bodies in the matter of approaching the Government with a request that the whole system of control be revised with the object of defining the future policy of Public Hospital revenue and expenditure. Referring to the constitution of Hospital Boards, the Council was also of opinion that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Institutions’ Act should he amended to enable city and borough councils having direct representation thereon. The Council asked for the local Council’s earnest consideration to the above matters, and for an early reply to enable a deputation representing the local bodies to wait on the Government during the forthcoming session of Parliament.”

The Mayor (Mr. Perreau) said that the Council had no complaint to make against the administration of the Palmerston North Hospital Board. With regard to representation, Foxton was well represented on the Board. Had the Palmerston North Borough Council’s letter been so worded that the Hospital Board collect its own rates he would be in favour of supporting it. The present system of collecting the Hospital Rate, he considered unfair on Borough Councils, who, under liir present system had to collect the rate and forward same to the Hospital Board. This meant that an increase in the Hospital Rate meant an increase in the borough rates, and the people did not understand that such increase was not due to the administration of the Council, but was a charge made by the Hospital Board. He thought it would be far more satisfactory for the Hospital Boards to collect their own rates. Referring again to the administration of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, Mr. Perreau said that it was by no means extravagant. The people wanted a good hospital and were prepared to [lay for it. Cr. Walker endorsed the Mayor’s lemarks. Tie referred to a recent visit he had paid to the Palmerston North Hospital, and said the extraordinary treatment of patients in the institution underwent right from the first was remarkable. He would not support anything against the present administration of the Palmerston North Hospital. The Mayor said lie did not approve of the recent reference about extravagant expenditure by the Palmerston North Hospital Board. Cr. Walker: It is a big institution, well managed, and has at its head an excellent chairman. The following motion was then put and carried unanimously:—

“That the Palmerston North Borough Council be informed that ibis Council does not require direct representation on the Palmerston North Hospital Board, but would urge that the Hospital Boards Act be amended to provide that the Hospital Board collect its own rate from the citizens in its district instead of levying on the Council as at present; whereas the Council levies rates to provide for its own domestic activities, any increase in Hospital Board levy means an automatic increase in borough rates to provide the additional levy, and the Council is thus left in an invidious position so far as its own ratepayers are concerned, who naturally fail to appreciate the reason for the increase in their rates.”