HOSPITAL BOARDS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 90, 13 October 1920, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARDS

AN AMENDING BILL

NEW SUBSIDY SCHEDULE;

The principal provision of the Hospital' and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General's Message last night is the alteration of the schedule of subsidies payable in respect of contributions obtained by levies from local authorities. The new provisionis that the board which makes .the, Highest- proportional levy shall receive the highest-rate of subsidy. The proportion borne by the district., levy to the total rateable value in the district is to.be compared with. the proportion borne by the levies of all the' districts to the total rateable value of all the districts. Where the result is 350-120ths and upwards the rate of subsidy is to, be 28s for each pound collected. For every 15-120ths lower the, subsidy is reduced by sixpence, till the district and the Dominion proportions are equal. For every 5-120ths, below this the subsidy is „■ reduced by sixpence, till at a proportion of 40-120ths it is 12s. The subsidy is' not to be more than 30s in. the £, nor less than 10s. The total amount of subside for the whole of the boards is to bs-fixeo* as in the principal Act, with the provision that it shall not exceed half the total'levies by more than 1 per cent.

Another important section requires hospital boards,-when bo directed' by the Minister, to allow all nurses in their 'service time off, not exceeding.24 hours, at such intervals as the Minister may- determine.

Boards are authorised to pay their chairmen an hororarium not exceeding! £100 a year. The section of the principal Act which! makes hospital boards liable for the maintenance of certain indigent children jn industrial schools is repealed; also the section providing for the" guardianship of minors in institutions under the control of the boards. *

Boards are. authorised to use their funds for 'the. establishment of nursing and massage bursaries and payment of pensions, which shall not exeeec? £2 per week, nor be paid to any employed with, less than, ten years' continuous service.

Hospital aivc} charitable aid boards a<re> to be known in future as hospital boards.

Hospital boards may be nequirer 1.- to appoint such doctors and nurses as the Director-General of Health. may deem necessary for the treatment of persons elsewhere than in the boards' institutions.

Net expenditure for the purposes "of estimates is defined as the expenditure after deduction of estimated kvies and subsidies. The provision for making levies is remodelled, but there is no substantial departure from present methods. Tills power to release contributing authoHties from payment of excess levies is limited to the contributions foi capital expenditure. ■

Any capital expenditure may be distributed over a period of years. Contracts made by s' board for payment for relief are required to be subject to Ministerial approval. There are other minor amending proposals. ) The Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Health Committee. . .