The Bay of Plenty Times THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1946, HOSPITAL AMALGAMATION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14067, 23 May 1946, Page 2

The Bay of Plenty Times THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1946, HOSPITAL AMALGAMATION

It was only natural that the question of rates should be uppermost in the minds, of members of the Tauranga County Council when they received members of the Hospital Board the other day and discussed with them the proposal for the amalgamation of hospital boards, together with the current year’s hospital levy for there is no doubt that the, continued increase in the amount which land owners are yearly being called upon to pay for the upkeep of the hospitals is causing a good deal of uneasiness. As was to be expected, the discussion did not get anywhere for it would appear that nothing .can be done until something more definite is known of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee which recently concluded the taking of evidence throughout New Zealand on local body administration, the report of which should come before Parliament during the session which begins next month. The first thing most primary.producers in particular will want, to know is in what degree, if any, amalgamation will affect the taxation which they are called upon to meet. It is very difficult to visualise anything in the way of relief. For instance, no matter where the administrative body is centred the Tauranga hospital must still be as large as it is to-day and it must continue to grow. And, the people must still continue to meet the cost. There might, of course, be a saving in administrative costs, but, even if there were it could in no sense be regarded as anything in the nature of relief from the present heavy and mounting burden. One of the members of the board who waited on the council voiced the opinion of many when he stated that he would favour any scheme which would reduce hospital costs, but he was also right when he declared that it was impossible to economise when it came to hospital expenditure and that it was false economy to try to do so. In reply to a ouestion by the County Chairman, it was stated by the chairman of the Hospital Board that although he was notable to say which districts Tauranga would amalgamate with, he thought the proposal was to amalgamate the Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, Opotiki and Rotorua areas. If this is so, then a very hig question is raised and that is responsibility for the sick of the Maori race for in all these districts there are big. Maori populations from whom nothing in the way of revenue for the upkeep of hospitals is received. It will be seen, therefore, that if such a form ol‘ amalgamation does come about, those charged with the administration of the combined hospital district, and more especially those who have to inch- the cost, will be faced with a. mighty big responsibility and one which they should not accept. It was indeed heartening to hear one member of the board say that he believed that in the near future there would be a reorganisation of the incidence of hospital rating. It is to be hoped that his belief proves to be correct for it is difficult to see how any form of amalgamation on its own cab solve the problem. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Consciousness of right-doing brings its own reward; but not amid the smoke of battle merit seen and appreciated by lookers-on. —Mary Baker Eddy.