HOSPITAL BOARD AND THE NEEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD AND THE NEEDY.

Replying to "Ratepayer's" letter re the Hospital Board's treatment of destitute cases in sickness, I would just like to quote tie following: My wife was recently discharged from the Public Hospital after receiving equivalent attention to the (shall I say?) paying guests. I myself during the past four years have had the same treatment (both as an out-patient and in-patient). My children have had treatment, and two of them were born free at the St. Helens nursing home, and through being unemployed I have had- my accounts filed. The Unemployment Board has provided me with food and shelter for the last four years, and sometimes I eke out a little pleasure for my wife and family. When first married I was a member of a benefit friendly society and had other systems and hopes of prudence and forethought. However, these, like many other incidents, had to elide when the pocket dwindled until—well, you just procure what you can. Considering that the Hos- < pital Board catered for the relief worker and family one week in four for a considerable period, in addition to their own specific cases, when to my mind it was a responsibility shirked by the Unemployment Board, I think it is high time that some of the "extras" were taken away from the board, so that they could carry on as they ought to; that is, to help the sick and needy. Let us speed on the lately-talked of insurance health scheme, not only for relief workers, but for every working man and woman in the country. THIRTY-TWO.