AUCKLAND HOSPITAL FEE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 276, 19 November 1913, Page 9

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL FEE.

RAISED TO 0/ PER DAY. A proposal by the Charitable Aid Committee of the Auckland Hospital Bo.ird to *-aise the fee to li per day (from 4/6), with a provision that a rebate of sixpence per day be allowed if the account be paid within a month, was opposed by Messrs. Xcrheny and Rnwe. The former protested that it would make the way easy again for the man who had a little more money than his brother, and the discount only increased that. Mr. Rowe voiced the strong feeling that there were poor people who were too proud to go to ths hospital unless they could pay. and stated that this increase was making it more difficult for those people. The chairman explained that the cost of staffing and of previsions had so much increased in late years that a rise in the fee was necessary. Mr. Coyle pointed out that it was only the people who were in the position to pay who were asked to pay, and such people should be charged what the cost actually was. As a matter of fact the present committee dealt very leniently with patients, but the man who could pay and made use of the hospital because it was cheap should have to pay the cost of his maintenance. Messrs. Teed and Bagnall supported the propo=nl. and Messrs. Rutherford and Mackay opposed it. Mr. Mackay stated that he was opposed generally to an increase in the fee because his feeling was that a great proportion of the maintenance c ame from the consolidated revenue, contributed to by the man who smoked or drank beer or wore imported boots and shirt*. It was true that the cost of maintenance of the hospital had increased, and he thought the case could be met by a compromise. For that reason, he moved that the charge be 5/ per day. The amendment was seconded, and brought a further protest from Mr. Xerheny against any increase at all. The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.

The incre"=" 'n the fe.e as proposed was then carried-