MISS HOWARD’S FORECAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26621, 18 November 1947, Page 6

MISS HOWARD’S FORECAST

GREATER GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATION

Special to the Daily Times

Announcing that she was studying the position with a view to legislation, Miss Howard, the .Minister. of Health, forecast to electors at a meeting at Runanga the possibility of changed representation on hospital boards..

“ The time will come very shortly when the system of hospital board representation will have to be changed,” said Miss Howard' “ I believe we should have Government appointees on hospital boards and I intend to go into that question because the greater part of the expenditure of the boards now comes from the Government.” The Minister said that bigger hospital troubles had had tp be faced because the Government had lightened the rate burden by a stabilised rate. Before that the rate was a matter of considerable importance in local body elections, but now hospital boards had to raise only a small ■ fraction of the cost, the Consolidated Fund provided the rest. • v . ...

“I am hoping we get Labour control next Wednesday,” said Miss Howard, who added that close co-operation with the Government was necessary. Even in the first year of a stabilised rate some boards were putting in most extravagant demands. “ They do not ask for much for the bottom dog, but want to put up the salaries of the highly paid doctors,” said Miss Howard. She added that the Government had not been content with the salaries of nurses and other workers in hospitals not covered hy an award, and as a result a Consultative Committee had been set Up with representatives of the nurses, the department, and the boards. They had reached agreement, and she was now hopeful of being able to announce new wages early in December.