BURDEN OF COST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 10

BURDEN OF COST

CENTRALISED SCHEME

Speaking without having the opportunity of consulting his -executive committee, Mr. H. H. Miller, chairman of the Wellington Ratepayers' Association, said that it was clear that the medical aspect of the problem had been paramount in the minds of the Commissioners, with a lesser degree of consideration to the question •of whether a decentralize! scheme would give the same result at a smaller cost. He said he thought that the ratepayers would be disappointed at the Commission's recommended adherence to the centralised scheme.

The ratepayers' viewpoint, Mr. Miller continued, was clearly expressed by Sir James Elliott in his evidence, where he drew attention to the fact that there was a limit to the amount which could be provided by an already overtaxed comparatively small group of ratepayers.

The one ray of sunshine in the report was the recommendation that consideration be given to the needs of the Hutt Valley. It was the opinion of ratepayers that were this provision proceeded with as a first work and additional accommodation provided for convalescent patients elsewhere a great centralised hospital in the rather unfavourable present site could be avoided for some time at any rate, specially in view of the possible changes which would* be brought about by the proposed health legislation to be introduced by the Government.

It was felt, added Mr. Miller, that if it were necessary to spend such large sums on building great city hospitals the time had surely come to consider the wisdom of nationalising the Dominion's hospital system so that the financial burden would be lifted from the small group of ratepayers and spread over the whole community.