Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1928. hospital ADMINISTRATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3846, 18 September 1928, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1928. hospital ADMINISTRATION.

THE collecting of the hospital rate by local bodies does not entitle such bodies to dictate the policy or interfere with the administration of hospital boards. The Act makes it clear that Hospital Boards are distinct corporate bodies whose members are elected by and are responsible to the ratepayers for their actions. Every year Boards submit to local bodies their estimates of receipts and expenditure with the proportionate levies to be collected. If any collecting’ body is not satisfied with its allotment, it has the right to apply to the Minister for a commission of enquiry. But beyond this point local bodies are no more concerned than are any individual ratepayer in' the hospital district. The Minister in replying to a deputation at Wellington last week said that local bodies were merely the machinery for collecting the rates. He also warmly defended the boards against charges of extravagance in the matter of expenditure. The Minister said the department did not intend to sacrifice efficiency to economy. He was satisfied the community would not stand for it. So far as direct representation on boards by appointment from local bodies was concerned this would not be given serious consideration. The question of a more equitable system of levies was a matter upon which the Government would take action provided the counties and boroughs could decide among themselves a mutuallv satisfactory basis.