HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES

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

HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE

DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIALS AND BOARDS’ COMMITTEE.

Under a sclieme evolved by tho Public Health Department it was proposed to fix tho minimum subsidy to hospitals at lOs in the £ on the rates received on tho capital value of lands in respective hospital districts. The rates varied. In some oases the rate was one-tenth of a penny in. the £, while in others it was as high as a penny in the £, and in order to meet the position so that poorer districts in respect to land values —would not suffer, a. proportional scheme was formulated by the department. When tho question came theHospital Boards’ Conference on Tuesday a number of objections to the scheme, as outlined, were brought forward by delegates, and in order that something tangible might arrived at a committee was appointed to meet tho officials of the department and confer with them on the matter. The result of that conference was submitted to ,tlvi hospital boards’ delegates yesterday in the shape of a recommendation. It was as follow: ‘‘Tha-t it bo recommendation to the conference of hospital hoards that tho principal of tho proportion! J scheme proposed bv the departmentbe aproved, hub that the _ minimum rate -of subsidy bo 12s 6d in the £, and that boards in whose districts there are a number of rates from native lands uncollectable, should re-, ceivo an equivalent grant ' from the Government.” _ Tho only dissentients, on the committee, to the recommendation, were Messrs Penn and Conradi, who were of opinion that the mean rate of subsidy should be 25s in tho £, and the minimum rate 15s. Mr Penn also expressed the opinion that a flat rate ot £ for £ should be reintroduced. » Mr J. Coyle, chairman of the committee, said he had attended a number of hospital boards conferences, but had not taken the floor. He was in tho position of the chairman who was in 1892 known as the silent member of the House. On Tuesday, however the chairman addressed the conforence. IT© held & brief fox his dis~ trict (Manawatu), 1 and made the most of his case. 11 the subsidy was not paid, said Mr Coyle, and the amount of levy to be made in each district was not known until September, hospital boards would have to work on bank overdrafts, and while New Zealanders had no objection to paying for services rendered, they had an objection to paying 7 per cent, on an overdraft, when they did not get «h equivalent. There was only one objection to the proposed subsidy—hoards would be left in the dark J* ,s what amount to ask for. A £ for £ subsidy was not the fairest, but it was only fair to the department to say that it had endeavoured to woik out an onuitable scheme. It was a in affiance,. and the boards should give tho scheme support. There were boards which would feel the pinch, hut those boards would receive benefit by tlie snbsidv being raised from 10s to 12s 6d in the £. HEAVY LEVIES.

What broke the backs of hospital boards was finance, and there was a = howl from local authorities at the levies struck. Especially was this the case as regards the Wellington district,, The four central hospitals in the Dominion might, he said to deal with cosmopolitan people. More poor persons were treated in these institutions than in any others, and many were not in a position to pay tho full hospital fee. After referring to other countries W’herc hospitals wore under Government control, Mr Coyle said that nationalisation of hospitals did not mean tho abolition of hoards, but It would bo a sorry day when nationalisation came into force and the institutions were run by departmental officers. This would first mean bureaucratic control and finally autocratic control. RECOMMENDATIONS AGREED TO. There was considerable discussion on tho question and an amendment was proposed by Mr Conradi; ‘ ‘That tho minimum rate of levy be 15s in tho On being put the amendment was lost and tho recommendations of the committee carried by 21 votes to 11. LEVY PAYABLE TO BOARDS.

On last year’s figures the following rates of subsidy would be payable to the various hospital boards : —Wailu 31s 6d, Inangahua 31s (id, Westland 30s sd,’ Grey 28s 7d, Buller 26s 7d, Coromandel 2os 6d. Whangarei 25s 6d, Bay of Islands 24s 7d, Wellington 23s lid, Yinoont 23s 7d, Otago. 23s Id, Thames 235, Maniototo 22s id, Piaton 21s 4d„ Wairoa 21s Sd. Wairau 21s 3d, Taranaki 20s lOd, Hawke’s Bay 20s 4d, Southland 20s 3d, Auckland 20a 3d, Tauranga 20s 2d, Kaipara 20s, Nelson 19s Bd. Wairarapa 19s 6d, Hawcrai 18s 6d, Taumarunui 17s 9d, VVainpu 17s Sd, Stratford 17s Sd, Wanganui 17s Sd, Cook 16s lid. South Canterbury 16s Id, Waipawa 10» Id W lace and Fiord 16s, Waikato 15s Bd, Palmerston North Iss 6d, Bay of Plcnty 14s Bd. Patea 12s lOd, W aitaki 12s 6d, Ashburton 12a 6d, North Canterbury 20s 2d.