HOSPITAL FINANCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 4005, 3 October 1929, Page 3

HOSPITAL FINANCE.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

Speaking on hospital finance in the House yesterday, the Minister of Health (Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) said he was doing his best to evolve a better method of hospital finance than was at present employed. “It must be plain,” said Mr Stallworthy, “that we have at present a system off hospital finance and a hospital system generally, which gives us reason I'ojr a. large degree ot gratification. In the Old Country, hospitals have to rely entirely upon the unstable system of voluntary contributions and any comparison made between the two must be in favour of the New Zealand system, which has an assured, definite and substantial basis of finance. It has been suggested that we should seek for a definite assured and substantial basis but I think we have it.

“Of course, a certain amount of financial responsibility is placed on the shoulders of local bodies, but it should not be overlooked that 50 per cent, at least falls on the Consolidated Fund in respect of capital expenditure and maintenance.

“There was room for a difference of. opinion, but speaking' by and large, there was every reason to be proud of New Zealand’s system, which has been described by experts as one of the finest systems in the world’ Personally, he had investigated hospital systems abroad and agreed with -the visitors that New Zealand’s system really .was the finest in the world.” He would admit that the basis of finance -might not be altogether equitable or perfect and for that reason, he intended to discuss further with hospital boards and local bodies some system of a more equitable levy or taxation as between the town and country dweller. ' ,

There was just a danger that with finance and revenue too assured, New Zealand might be drying up the possibilities of voluntary contributions.