MAORI PATIENTS

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2305, 6 September 1929, Page 6

MAORI PATIENTS

HOSPITAL BOA IMPS FEES <Per Press Association) Wellington, Sept. b. The difficulties which some Hospital Boards, ‘notably those' in fbc northern districts, experience in the collection of fees from Maori patients were explained to Sir Joseph Ward by ;l big, ..deputation from the Hospital Boards’, Association. Sir JoseplT Ward pointed out that the Government had no fund on which it could draw in order to implement the cost of natives’ hospital trea tmen f. ’ He s.vmpatb ised with the association, which was. in an awkward position. He 1 would see If ho could effect some means of enablin'; fhe boards t° 2 e t money out of ftvir clients. Asked if ;ii oTuuf could not be made from the Maori Purposes Fund file Prime Minister said that, be would look info that. He did not know how these funds were drawn upon. Hon. A. J. Stallworthy remarked that the burden did not hill tM <- tirely or: tdi> boards- Or. the basis

ol' two years’ deficiency there was a. shortage of £'lo,ooo a year, anJ |,he Government already provided half (hat, £BOOO a year. The Government actually paid out last year £17,*000 for Maori sanitation and health purposes, a higher sum than fVe boards, had f.° hnd in hospital fee defaults.