NATIONALISATION OF HOSPITALS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1939, Page 4

NATIONALISATION OF HOSPITALS.

A CONSIDERED reply promised by the Minister of Health (Mr. Fraser) to a deputation representing the whole of the rating authorities of New Zealand which interviewed him in Wellington last week on the subject of hospital rating will be awaited with a great deal of interest. Some very important questions are raised, notably in the proposal put forward on behalf of the Municipal Association by its President. (Mr. T. Jordan) that hospital expenditure as a whole should be financed in the same manner as the Social Security scheme —by a levy on wages and other income.

No doubt it is true, as the Minister observed, that this might, bring up the question of the nationalisation of hospital and some people, may lie very unwilling to see State control substituted for local body control in any branch of administration. It has to be considered, however, whether the public hospitals of the 'Dominion are not to all intents and purposes nationalised today. As members of last week’s deputation pointed out, hospital boards have very little power now, on account of the overriding authority exercised by the .Minister of Health and his Department.

The present system of hospital rating is the subject of many complaints, and it appears to be agreed almost universally that it is inequitable. As Mr Jordan observed, instead of being based on capacity to pay, it is based on property, irrespective of earning power. It is definitely a question whether the preservation of the slight measure of local control now.exercised over hospitals should be regarded as worth while if it is to stand in the way of the establishment of a mor,e equitable method pf meeting hpspital costs.