NO HASTY ACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 9

NO HASTY ACTION

AMALGAMATION SCHEME

HOSPITAL DISTRICTS

Questioned regarding the proposed amalgamation of hospital districts and

the possible effect of such amalgamations on hospital institutions in Canterbury, the Minister of Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) said in Christchurch that he could not yet make any definite statement; but hospital boards could rest assured that no hasty action would bo taken, arbitrarily, to. force the amalgamation of districts.

The recent amendment to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, which the Minister had had passed by Parliament during the reeeut session, provided more effective machinery for bringing about such amalgamations. Formerly, amalgamation had been possible only with tho mutual agreement of the districts concerned; and experience had shown that quite important reforms had been thwarted because purely local considerations had overshadowed the larger national interests. To illustrate his point, the "Press" states, tho Minister cited the'case of an old servant of a small hospital board. ■ In that instance the whole question of an amalgamation of districts had depended on whether ho was pensioned or retained all his life. "The amendment," said the Minister, "provides machinery veiy*similar to that now obtaining in the Counties Act for bringing about the amalgamation of counties. Where after discussion between the Department of Health and the hospital boards concerned, it is found that there is a deadlock, and that the proposed reform is being hindered by lack of mutual agreement, the Minister may set up a Commission, consisting- either of a Magistrate, or a Magistrate and one other person to take evidence in thedistricts concerned, to report, and, if it is thought necessary, to make recommendations to the Government. The Minister may then, if he deems it advisable on the evidence, bring about amalgamation within the terms of the recommendations of the Commission . and give effect to them by Order-in-Council."

Opposition had been forthcoming I stated Mr. Young, on the grounds that that should be done only by statute and not by Order-in-Council; but he said that position would reduce Parliament to the standard of road board or parish polities.