HOSPITAL RATES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16521, 13 May 1919, Page 8

HOSPITAL RATES.

COST TO THE CITY. Tho City Council laet evening received from -the North Canterbury Hcepital rnd Charitable Aid Board a copy of its estimated receipts and expenditure for the year 1919-20, and aleo a list of contributions by local bodies, the city's share being £13,987 IBs. Last year tho ' Council's contribution was £13,376 Gs Id.

In a covering letter the eecretary of *he Board wrote: —

"It will be noticed that although the maintenance requirements shows an increase on tho_ provioua year, • yet the levy on local authorities for maintenance purposes is over £2177 Jess than in last year. This is accounted, for by the expansion of the amount of fees collected. The attention of the Minister of Hospitals and other members of Cabinet and the Canterbury members of Parliament ha 3 been drawn "to the need for stepe to be taken in the coming session to amend the system of subsidies, which at the_ present time is inequitable, and acts prejudicially against, the North Canterbury district, which since tho 1909 Act came into force has endeavoured to carry out tho responsibilities cast upon it by tho Act in question. In either respects the Board has endeavoured to meet the full requirements of .the district in the shape of hospitals, maternity homes, dental and bacteriological departments, institutions for the Aged, infirm and unfortunate. A comparison of tho achievements of other districts will show that tho North Canterbury district undoubtedly leads nil the districts in New Zealand, many of which have failed to provide services, especially with regard to the provisions for the care of consumptives and the dental treatment of children and poor persona. The proposal mado to tho Government is that the subsidies paid to tho main Boards should be at exactly tho 'samo rate, that is to say, that if the Noith Canterbury Board is only to receive 14s 3d for each £1 contributed by tho local authorities, then Otago and Wellington should rcceive no more. The Hon. tho Minister for Hos-' pitals admits tho injustice of the manner in which .'tho present system acts, and . there ib no doubt he will do all in his power to obtain the necessary amendment. When Parliament meets the Board proposes to send | a deputation to Wellington, and at tho same I time will be_ pleased if the contributing local authorities of tho districts can mako representations to their parliamentary iopresentatiyea with a view to obtaining support to the amendment suggested." Cr. Jameson moved that the mtftte r bo referred to tho Council's Finance Committee, but the Mayor (Dr. Thacker, M.P.) said the Council could <jnlv "receive" it, and this course was adopted.