H.—3la

6

REPORT.

To His Excellency the Right Honourable John Rush worth, Viscount Jellicoe, Admiral of the Fleet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order offthe Bath, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— We, your Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency's Letters Patent of the 18th January, 1921, and 14th March, 1921, which Letters Patent were extended on the 3rd May, 1921, and further extended on the 7th June, 1921, by which we were directed to inquire into the following matters, that is to say, — 1. (a.) The extent to which the Government should contribute towards the capital requirements of Hospital Boards, and the basis upon which such contributions should be given ; (&.) Generally as to the best means of meeting the heavy cost of proposed capital works ; 2. (a.) The extent to which the Government should contribute towards the net maintenance requirements of Hospital Boards in the Dominion ; (b.) The basis of allocation of any such contribution amongst the individual Boards ; 3. The extent to which the Government should continue to subsidize voluntary contributions ; 4. The extent to which the Government should contribute towards the funds of separate institutions under the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act; 5. The extent to which the Government should make grants in aid of various charitable societies and institutions ; 6. (a.) The fees that should be charged for maintenance and treatment in public hospitals ; (b.) The establishment of private or paying wards in public hospitals ; . The present method of allocation of representation of contributory local authorities and the ratepayers on Hospital Boards, having regard also to the nature of the suffrage ; 8. The desirability or otherwise of providing for Government representation upon Hospital Boards by means of nominated members ; -9. The constitution and area of the present hospital districts, and whether the present grouping of local authorities in various districts is the best and fairest method of distributing the cost of the base hospitals throughout the Dominion amongst the various local authorities ; 10. To what extent economy might be effected by the adoption of stricter business methods, more especially in the purchasing of medical and surgical supplies,— have to report as follows : — Evidence was obtained from members and officials of Hospital Boards, local bodies, and Boards of other organizations affected, departmental officials, private medical practitioners, and other persons. By advertisement in the public Press an invitation was extended to any persons desiring to give evidence. Witnesses were examined in public. Sittings were held at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. One hundred and twenty-two witnesses gave evidence. Certain evidence was submitted during the course of the inquiry upon matters which were outside the scope of the Commission, and on such matters no recommendations were made.