HOSPITAL GRANT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1938, Page 7

HOSPITAL GRANT

UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY BILL AMOUNT DECLARED TO BE INADEQUATE MOTION PASSED BY AUCKLAND BOARD (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 29. Fears that there would be little or no alleviation in the present burden of .hospital taxation and the opinion that the proposed grant of 6s a patient from a special State 'fund • would be inadequate to meet the costs of treatment were expressed at a special)meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board tonight, when the effects of the Social Security Bill were considered. Although unanimous in'advocating the'necessity for an increased per capita allowance, members differed in their views as to the measure of hospital treatment that would be required following the introduction of the scheme. The chairman, Mr Allan J. Moody, said the scheme was now in the hands of the Minister and his departmental officers, and it would perhaps be unwise to hamper their task as this particular stage. There was no doubt, however, that the Bill would require careful consideration by the Legislature. The measure possessed a very wide aspect for hospital boards, because of the many services which they would be required to perform. Advice from the Hospital' Boards’ Association was that its executive would keep in close touch with the position and a conference of boards would be called at a later stage when the Government’s proposals were advanced. A motion was carried unanimously stated that an allowance ,of 6s was considered inadequate to>meet the cost of a patient and requesting the Minister favourably to consider a substantial increase in the amount.