HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 374, 8 November 1932, Page 6

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Our District Representative.)

OPOTIKI BOARD HANDLES ITS GENERAL BUSINESS.

(From

The usual; monthly meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board was held on Friday afternoon, when general busi-' ness occupied the attention of Messrs. J. F. Short (chairman), P. Pewell, C. Black, S. Shalfoon, F. McDonnell, J. H. Reid, Dr. H. M. Budd and the sec- . retary, Mr. J. T. Merry. Their Pound of Flesh. The N.Z. Sheepowners' Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund Society wrote that they considered that they had treated the board very fairly over a Flock House boys' fees in offering half. The chairman mentioned that he thought that the society had the funds. Messrs. Reid and McDonnell both considered that the board should insist upon full payment being made, and this course was adopted. Residents of District. In the cases of two men whose residenee was in the Motuhora district and their plaee of work in the Cook Hospital district, members of whose families had been treated in the Cook Hospital, the board decided that it could not avoid liability for the fees incurred. Maori Patients. A lengthy cireular from the Hospital Boards' Association dealt with the position of Maori patients. It pointed out that there were two phases which affeeted boards; first, the nonpayment by Maoris of rates, and second, the non-payment of fees by Maori patients. Mr. McDonnell could not see an iota of relief for the board. The chairman: "It's a long burning question and I see nothing ahead. You know we discussed this matter thoroughly at a conference of .boards at Hamilton." The secretary read an account of an interview with Sir Apirana Ngata when the boards asked. for relief, but the Minister had stated that a considerable number of difficulties existed. However, under the Native Lands Settlement scheme the Maoris would become self-supporting and would be able to pay rates. The executive did not recommend that further efforts should be made to get relief in connection with Maori patients. The chairman said that some system would have to be devised to collect fees. It was not fair that the pakehas should have to carry the burden of non-paying Maoris. Mr. McDonnell: "You'll get no more rates in the future than you do today. Why down my way tbey're boasting that - they won't play any rates and if they won't pay county rates, what chance have we got? The chairman said that he did not sea how the board could do more than it was now doing, and the matter was then dropp'ed. Standardised Fees. The board decided to support a suggestion made to the Hospital Boards' Conference by the Waitaki Hospital Board that a uniform fee of 12s per day be charged by all hospitals. Electricity Charges. The secretary drew attention to -the steadily mounting1 chargss of electricity. Two comparative September quarters were: — 1931, £114 3s 4d; 1932 £130 16s 8d. On the suggestion of the chairman the medical superintendent and matron were deputed to go into the matter of endeavouring to 'effect economies. On the suggestion of Dr. Budd, Mr. J. D. Dickie (engineer of the Power Board) is to be asked to meet the chairman and himself at the hospital to go into the matter. Mr. Shalfoon suggested' that the meters should be tested. Sunshine Leagute. The~chairman reported that he had approached the Sunshine League with a view to gifts of linen, and that the league was taking the matter up at its next meeting on Monday. Finance. Accounts amounting to £367 17s 2d were passed for payment.