HOSPITAL FEES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10606, 3 June 1920, Page 3

HOSPITAL FEES

THE NATIVE PROBLEM DIFFICULTY IN COLLECTION: SOME SUGGESTIONS. According to several delegates to tho Hospital Boards’ Conference, a fair proportion of patients who receive treatment in some of the country hospitals are Maoris, and in almost every instance the boards concerned complain that they have been unsuccessful in their application for the payment of the fees incurred. It was recognised that there were a number of natives who wore not in a position to pay, and in order to provide for such cases the following resolution was submitted by a Nelson delegate to the conlcavneo yesterday afternoon: “That in view of the number of indigent Maoris continually receiving ' treatment from hospital boards, the conference ho invited to debate tho advisability of recommending tho introduction of legislation to tax tho wealth of the native people to meet hospital charges incurred by members of their race who are unable to pay.’’ The chairman (Sir James Wilson) said that it was advisable when forwarding remits that boards should place something definite before the conference on which a vote could bo taken.

To put the remit in order tho Nelson delegate moved: “That it be a recommendation to tho State department to endeavour to secure legislation enabling a tax to be imposed on all transfers of native lands and death duties on wealthy native estates for the purpose of reimbursing hospital boards for fees and expenses in connection with necessitous natives,''

Speaking in support of the resolution the delegate said that his board had written off £BOO in fees owed by native patients. In regard to tubercular oasc 3 treated in the Nelson hospital one-third were Maoris. It was necessary that sonic scheme should be devised to collect the cost of treatment of native pailients, by way of doatii duties or by some other method. There were many native estates on which a levy might be made. Dr Yalintino stated that he was sure tho conference would agree with tho remarks of the delegate from Nelson. It was a question of what machinery could bo used to bring about tile tu sued result, Mr J. K. Horn blow (Palana s ton North) said that inure Wcawho wore a menace to tho health oi a district ini which they lived. A delegate from Taumarunui said that all transactions in native land should bo taxed to a small extent. That ho said would get over the present difficulty. Mr Fraser (Now Plymouth) said that tho Maori landowners in his district were wealthy. They had leased their lands 'to Europeans at high rentals and wore in a position to meet hospital fees. A voice: If they are a a rich as you say the board can sue them. Mr Fraser added that an account of the curious tribal customs of ’the natives it was extremely difficult to get at tho person who was legally responsible. Tho only way to collect native rates was on the co-operative principle. Some of the diseases from which natives suffered were loathsome and nurses did not like attending to them, and on that account they should be called upon to pay higher fees The question, was referred to the Native Health Department for consideration. . *