Taupo could lose board seat — Birnie

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 56, 16 July 1974, Page 14

Taupo could lose board seat — Birnie

Proposed changes in the structure of hospital boards in New Zealand have been viewed with mixed feelings by Taupo's representative on the Waikato Hospital Board, Mr J. W. Birnie. He forsees an amalgamation of the Opotiki, Whakatane and Tauranga boards, with the addition of Rotorua, Taupo, and possibly Tokoroa and Turangi, which are at present under the Waikato board. If this happened, Taupo would no longer have its own representative on the administration authority. Mr Birnie has represented the Taupo borough and county on the Waikato Hospital Board for the last 15 years and is to stand again this year. "The ' Government has indicated that later this year if intends to bring in sweeping alterations to the hospital board administration system. Some of these could be beneficial," he said. "I feel that the Government will go along with the recommendations of the Barrowclough report tabled a number of years ago, and this will cut down the districts from 30 to about 15. "This would mean that boards such as Waikato would be reduced in areas and others would be amalgamated, and portion of the boards such as Waikato given to the amalagamated boards. "Any fragmentation and amalgamation must involve the Bay of Plenty and directly affect this district. "Combining Opotiki, Whakatane, Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupo would be of no disadv&ntage, provided the newly formed authority carries on the constructive planning and expansion programme which each board has approved and embarked on. "The Waikato areas of Taupo, Rotorua, Tokoroa and Turangi should always be highly appreciative of the work done in their areas by the Waikato board, particularly in the raising of loans for our projects." Mr Birnie expressed concern that the democratic elections of boards would be affected if a new basis of representation evolved. "Plans could be being propounded to alter our democratic set-up, which is something that should be very jealously preserved. "It has been suggested to me that a future area could be controlled by a hospital board or commission of sorts, with an equal number of elected members and appointed members. V It could include mem-' bers of the Health Department and others appointed by Ministerial favour," he said. "This would probably be presided over by an independent chairman, also appointed, with the usual casting vote. "The result would be

that the democratically elected members would have a virtual minority vote." With no more than six or seven elected members, Taupo would not be able to expect its own representative, Mr Birnie said. Any member representing this area would represent other areas as well and the autonomous nature of the present representation would be gone. "But whatever happens, this year will see the last hospital board elections and representation as we know it today," he said. "It could be a retrograde step as far as the construction of any board or authority is concerned if

my predictions prove correct." Mr Bi.nie would like to see the majority of members on a future hospital authority elected by the voters. "There is a place for a minority departmental representation," he said. "It could lead to a streamlining of dealings between the boards and the Department of Health. "Delays in the past have been frustrating and time consuming. "Unfortunately, they have been paid for both financially and physically by the sufferings of the public, through no fault of the present constituted boards, all over New Zealand."