UNDER PROTEST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 206, 13 June 1931, Page 3

UNDER PROTEST

HOSPITAL ESTIMATES REDUCED.

AUCKLAND BOARD’S DECISION,

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, June 12

In accordance with the requirements of the Health Department, the Auckland Hospital Board decided, at a special meeting, to reduce its maintenance estimates for the coming financial year to £178,767, a reduction of £43,785 compared with last year’s estimates.

The requi 'ements of the Department were: An increase of £ISOO in the amount of estimated receipts from patients’ payments; an increase of £ISOO in the estimated payments for outdoor relief; a decrease oi' .1:6048 in the estimated payments on hospital maintenance; an amendment to £91,223 in the amount of maintenance levies on local authorities; an amendment to £87,543 in the amount of inamtcna.icc subsidies. in explaining the position to the Boaid, the secretary (Air ii. A Somjiierville) said the estimated payments had been reduced by £53,461, and tlie estimated receipts had been iitcrea>ed by £9676, leaving a compared with last year of £43,785. Nc Alternative for Board. “It seems to me that we cannot go much further than we have gone,” said the chairman (Air A\ T . Wallace). “If we do not adopt the estimates forced on up by the Department wo will receive no subsidy and will have nothing to work on. The only alternative is to adopt the estimates as required by the Department. The Finance Act allowed for a reduction in subsidy of 10 per cent., hut there was no mention of a cut in local body contributions, amounting to 17 per cent., and making a total cut of 27 per cent. Air AA r allace referred to the altered figures of the Department from time to time. The Alinister for Health, he said, had agreed that hoard allowance should not be affected in the reduction of nurses’ salaries. Other hoards had. done so under force of circumstance, hut there was scarcely one that had not protested through the Hospital Boards’ Association. The Department’s figures had been adopted, but- the Boards had been forced to adopt them. The North Canterbury Hospital Board had said that it would be compelled to close down almost all oi its small institutions. Other boards were simply waitxntr to see how the Auckland Hospital Board fared before taking any action. Mr AVallace said lie had approached several officers of the Department in Wellington and had asked Avhether the Board could carry on under the conditions demanded. They had agreed that it would lie possible to carry on by admitting only urgent cases to the hospital. Must Obtain Money to Carry On.

“AVe have been forced into this position and we are not going to take the responsibility without protesting, Mr AVallace continued. “The only means by which wc can carry oil it by not conducting the present service, as admitted by the Departmental officers. The Department had asked for an increase of fees of £ISOO. The collector of lees had reported that lie was not receiving the money, although lie was making three times the number oi calls lie had previously made. “I do not believe in the. Department’s estimates, nor do I believe that we can give effect to them,” Air AVallace said, but we have to obtain the money with which to carry on.” The Rev. AV. C. AVood, m seconding the chairman’s motion that the estimates should bo adopted, said that although lie was opposed to this course, it- was the onlv one left open to the Board. The whole situation was to be deplored. He regretted that the Hospital Boards of the Dominion had nor shown a united front in the matter, and that their Association appnrententlv, had not been successful m dealing effectively with a difficult matter. Humanitarian Work Handicapped. “It is a pitv we could not emphasise the important distinction between Hospital Boards and other local bodies, Air AA’ood said. “The work of Hospital Boards is a humanitarian one, and provision must be made in proportion with the need. I think all responsible for this mechanical cut have failed tc realise the difference.” “It is evident that the hospital services of the Dominion are to be centralised,” said Air M. J. Savage, ALE. “AVe should absolutely refuse to adopt this kind of policy by the Government. The hospital system has taken generations to work up. and here is a Government smashing it down It will take generations to rebuild. Take the money away from the system and you take the‘life out of it.” . , The estimates were adopted, and it was decided to review the question of lower salaries at the next meeting et the Finance Committee.