THE HOSPITALS BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 4

THE HOSPITALS BILL.

DISCUSSED BY WELLINGTON HOSPITAL TRUSTEES. NUMEROUS AMENDMENTS DESIRED. A special meeting of tho' Wellington Hospital trustees was held yesterday afternoon, to discuss the Hospitals and Charitablo Institutions Bill, which, it is understood, will ho introduced by tho Government during the coming sossion. Those present were:—The Hon. C. M. Luke, M.L.C., (Chairman), Messrs. R. C. Kirk, W. H. Hales, C. Nash, J. Danks, and A. C. Pearco. AMALGAMATION OF DISTRICTS. Mr. Kirk said the Wairarapa bodies objected to coming into tho Wellington district, but it seemed to him that it would bo faira-Ho bavo the largo district as proposed by tho Bill. They would still have the management of their own institutions through local committees, but tho financial arrangements would bo for tho whole district. Tho Chairman said he thought tho widening of tho districts would ,bo an advantage, as it would obviate the rieoessity of much separata charging of the small districts for treatment of patients. . ' Tho clauses defining tho districts were approved by resolution. Oil tho suggestion of Mr. Kirk it was resolved, that tho members representing subdistricts on tho Boards should be appointed according to tho funds drawn from tho subdistricts. , ' • FUNCTIONS COMBINED. Tho Chairman raised tlnj question of tho amalgamation of hospital and charitable aid' administration, as proposed by tho Bill. He: approved of this change. Thero had been disagreement in the past as to which body was responsible for dealing with many cases of sickness and need. Tho want of a lyiiigin hospital in connection with tho Charitable Aid Boards had been especially felt.. '• Mr. Kirk held that tiio tendency under the proposed new arrangement would be to increase tho number of small local hospitals, and tho expenses would not bo kept down as inuchi as at present.. . : His cxperionco of charitablo aid administration was that country local bodies did not exercise such strict scrutiny, in regard to-tho deservinguess of cases as was exercised in the . city. ' They were inclined to say that as they.-wero contributing rather heavily, they should get all tho money they could distribute in their own districts. Mr. Nash said hospitals, and charitablo aid different that they should bo administered by separate bodies. ' Mr. Kirk said .that already,' in many districts, the two matters - were, jointly administered, and with satisfactory results. , . DIRECT ELECTION NOT WANTED. • At clauso 7, which provides that tho boards and the committees having charge of institutions shall bo elected by tho l-cte(tl electors, JUr. Kirk said ho did not seo tho necessity of direct election of tho members of .the boards and committees. . It would cause moro oxponso, and already tho boards were ap- - pointed indirectly by the electors through tho. local governing bodies. Tho local, bodies did not always' appoint ono of their own members. ' ■ i . ■ Tho Chairman said ho know of no general domand for direct, election in these branches of - administration.; • v ; • , Tho meeting resolved tbilt the change was unnecessary;, arid also that the members should'bo nominated in May, after the local body olections, instead of November, as at present. '' • 'It was resolved to recommend that extraordinary vacancies should bo. filled by tho Boards, as at present, instead of by popular election. GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION. 'Tho Chairman took exception'to; clause2l, which provides that all plpns for buildings 'kid 'additious'shall bo''.submitted?to and ap-, 'proved by the : Minister. Mr.--Luke said no did'not' object'to the' Government-having a voice, .but' such a 'clauso would -hamper, tup b.oards. in, coping, with emergencies!. Government representation on tho'boards would bo preferable', as an alternative. It was resolved to ask for tho insertion of words confining tho clause to votes costing raoro than £250 ; and also, that if : no reply is received from tho Minister after- tho lapse of; three weeks, his consent' shall bo deemed to have -boon -given. . • 'APPOINTMENTS. Mr. Pearco moved to strike''out tho following portion of clause 23:—"Provided that tho appointment of any medical officer or matron shall bo subject to the approval of tho Minister." Ho thought this would lead to political abuses. Mr. Kirk said tho Department might know of good reasons why a person should not bo appointed. Ho moved .to recommend the following substitute for tlio proviso of tho Bilb—"Provided that no'. appointmont of medical officer or matron be made until 14 days after tho proposed appointment. has been, notified to tho Minister." ;' Mr. Danks said tho Trustees had always made satisfactory appointments, and there was no need to change the system: Mr. Kirk said some very unsuitable appointments had been made by small country bodies. His amendment would .still leavotho power of Appointment in'tho hands of tho Boards. The Chairman and Messrs. Kirk and Hales voted for'the amendment, and Messrs. Pearco, Danks ■ and Nash . against it. Tlio Chairman casting vote for the amendment. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS.' Tho payment of an annual allowance, up to £200, to tho Chairman as provided in the Bill, was approved. It was resolved that tlio scale of payment of members' oxpenses when attending meetings should bo made more liberal by granting 10s. a day, in addition to the cost of travelling, i to members residing pore than 20 milos from tho place of meeting. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES. - Strong objection was taken by the Chairman and Mr. Kirk to tho reduction of Government subsidies on voluntary contributions and contributions from local authorities. It was unanimously resolved to ask for tho delotion of these provisions. Tho Trustees also objected unanimously to tho power being given to the Minister to withhold tho annual subsidy if, in his opinion, a Board has neglected any of its dutios, or failed to comply with any of his directions. LOANS. It was resolved that tho sum which the Colonial Treasurer may lend to a local authority for hospital building purposes or purchase of sites should be limited to £3000 (instead of £1000) in any ono year.. MANAGEMENT OF INSTITUTIONS. Words giving power to tho Minister to alter tho functions of a district committee, as delegated to it by a Board, wero the subject of an adverso resolution. . Mr. Kirk proposed a new sub-clauso, as follows: —"For the purpose of managing any institution under tho control of tho Board, other than a hospit.il, tho Board may appoint a spccial -committee, tho members- of which may bo or may not he ntombcrs of tlio Beard, and tlio Board may delegate to such special eomniitteo suoli powers as ! tho Board thinks fit; such special eomniitteo and tho members thereof to remain in oHico during tho plcasuro of tlio Board." Tho- other provisions of tho Bill, up to clauso 50, wore approved, with a few minor amendments. Tho meeting then adjourned to 3 p.m. on Monday next.