PAYMENT EVADED.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1922, Page 4

PAYMENT EVADED.

HOSPITAL BILLS OF MAORIS. SEEKING A SOLUTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A conference took place this morning between the Minister of Health and Hospitals and the Minister of Native Affairs, on the vexed question of Maori contributions to hospitals. There were present the Maori members of the House of, Rc presentatives, members representing the electorates in wfriph there are hospital districts affected, also Dr. Buck, who is in charge of Maori health and and Judge Jones, Under-Secretary of Native Affairs.

Complaint had been made by certain hospital boards in the North Island that while they give treatment to Maori patients it was often difficult to collect fees in payment, and that the amount of rates they collect from Maori lands for hospital maintenance is almost negligible. A lengthy and friendly discussion took place on tho whole question. The Under-Secretary of Native Affairs showed that in the South Island, when native land was purchased, one of the conditions was that the Government should give medical treatment, but there was no evidence of this condition applying to the North Island. Another question raised was whether the Government should not be responsible, apart from hospital board contributions, for Maori epidemics.

The conference adjourned for a fortnight. The Minister of Health, who had presided, stated that after hearing both sides he was hopeful of making suggestions which would meet the difficulty.