HOSPITAL CONTROL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 97, 27 April 1933, Page 3

HOSPITAL CONTROL.

WAIHI-THAMES DISTRICTS.

AMALGAMATION REFERENDUM.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WAIHI, Wednesday

A referendum on the question of the proposed amalgamation of the Waihi and Thames hospital districts will be taken at the forthcoming municipal elections at Waihi with a view to ascertaining the wishes of the electors in the matter. This question has been debated and discussed for many years past, and was the subject of a conference between the two boards and representatives of the Health Department, held at Paeroa in 1925, but no decision was reached in the matter.

The proposal has been strongly urged by the Health Department, but, as pointed out by Dr. Begg, the present machinery for amalgamating hospital boards was that such amalgamation could take place only by the consent of the boards concerned. That method has proved quite futile in the present case, but the amendment to the Act now makes provision, inter alia, for inquiry by a commission into the question of amalgamation, or, it necessary, the question of hospital district boundaries. As the sole contributory local authority under the Act, the Waihi Borough Council has had a heavy burden to carry in regard to the hospital levy. During the last ten years the borough has had to pay an average yearly levy of £2146, and the hospital rate is no less than 1/6 in the £, amounting to three-sevenths of the total rate revenue. Tho Waihi Borough Council, the Waihi Hospital Board and the Waihi branch of the Farmers' Union are in favour of fusion under the scheme recommended by the Department of Health. The surrounding farmers are in a very anomalous position, in that they pay rates to another hospital district,., and have not the privileges of those residing within the borough. Local residents are charged 9/ per day for treatment, but those living outside are required to pay 15/ per day for treatment in the Waihi institution.

Owing to the exceptional interest taken at the present time in connection with hospital affairs, there is likely to be a very heavy poll on May 3.

LABOUR'S OBJECTIVE.

NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE.

The Labour party's hospital administration policy was outlined by Mr. M. J. Savage, deputy-leader of the party, one of the candidates for re-election to the board, when speaking at the Leys Institute last night.

In the opinion of Mr. Savage, who said ho did not wish to cast any reflection on his colleagues of the present board, there were "miles of room" for improvement in the present system. For instance, the present method of finance for public hospitals made little or no attempt to place the burden on ■ those best able to bear it. Moreover, no one should be turned out of hospital until he was able to look after himself. That had not always been the policy of the board.

Mr. Savage summarised as under the objectives of Labour candidates:—(l) A national health service, based upon universal health insurance, and co-ordi-nating all forme of medical, ■ dental, nursing and kindred services—with payment for service rendered; (2) during the transition period, all revenue needed for the upkeep of existing services to be- a national charge, and to be levied by the Commissioner of Taxes •on the basis of estimated expenditure approved by the Minister of Health; (3) all institutions under the direction of the hospital board, and which require service from the medical profession, to be open to all qualified members of the profession, so far as is compatible with proper organisation and control; (4) extension of district nursing services; (5) full medical service to all, irrespective of income.