“Act Of Discrimination”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31344, 14 April 1967, Page 1

“Act Of Discrimination”

(N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 13. “The public of Otago still do not realise that the Otago Hospital Board has been subjected to an act of extreme discrimination,” said the board’s chairman (Mr H. L. Gibson) today.

“Otago is the only major board which has suffered a straight-forward reduction of 10s a head of population in its district—£62,37o. "They have taken away £80,443 from five boards— Otago, Buller, Grey, Inangahua and Westland. “And they have reallocated and increased maintenance

grants to other boards to the extent of £254,553. “What seems incredible to me is that the boards whose maintenance expenditure is low have been given £106.930 —an apparent invitation to them to increase expenditure,” said Mr Gibson. “If we have to make retrenchments in either city or country hospitals the board will not take responsibility. This will lie with the Health Department.” He was disturbed that no concern had been expressed

about the possibility of wards having to be closed in city hospitals because of the economy measures, said Mr Gibson.

He gave an assurance to country districts that the board would never consider closing their hospitals without consulting local interests. “We will do our utmost to spread restrictions over the board’s whole undertaking, so that no area is unfairly discriminated against,” said Mr Gibson.