MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 September 1918, Page 7

MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

MEETS HOKITIKA BOARD.

The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health and Internal Affairs, met the members of the Westland Char itable Aid Board in c'opterence at the Board’s rooms on Thursday afternoon. There were present : Messrs J. J. Breeze (chairman), J. Cameron, G. H. Blank, G. Davidson, H. Norman, L. Morel and H. Williams. The Hons. H. 1,. Michel and J. Grimmond were also in attendance.

Mr. Breeze opened proceedings by expressing the pleasure it gave him to welcome Mr. Russell to the Board table. Mr. Russell cordially acknowledged the welcome, stating though he did" not remember the Chairman, when he (Mr. Russell) was a resident in Held tika seme 40 years ago, he well remembered his father. He also congratulated the Chairman on holding the important office to the Board. Mr. Russell said that as Minister ot Hospitals ho desired to bring a number of matters before the attention of members. He had known for the past three years, while he had charge of the Department that Westland had been suffering as the result of financial troubles that were not due to the fault of their management, but to the peculiar circumstances under which they were placed. He pointed out thai. Westland with a population of 7359 and a rating value of £835,344 had a net expenditure of 20s Id per head for hospital and charitable aid purposes for other than capital expenditure, and tue rate they were paying of 1.083 d in the pound, which was the heaviest rate, with one exception, in all New /lealand, while the expenditure of 20s Id per head was the highest, the average being 6s Under the present system of subsidy Westland received 19s 3d in the £l, while some of the richer districts received more, the subsidy being based on a* population basis. He realised that the system was unfair, unjust and unequitable. For two years he had been preparing legislation to make radical alterations, but owing to the agreement among the parties of the National Government, only legislation dealing with the war was dealt with. He was satisfied that where a district was situated as Westland was, that she should not be put upon the same rate of subsidy as the richer districts. Take for instance, Palmerston North with a population of 35,000 and a rateable value of £14,390,000, the net expenditure was only 3s 10$d per head, as against 20s Id in Westland, the subsidy was 17s and the rate struck just over one-tenth of a penny. 1 hat showed how a flat subsidy was absolutely unjust, and it was his endeavour that ithe subsidy should be .graduated according to the rates levied. His proposals were for a subsidy of not less than 30s, for every pound of rates. Referring to the Westland Hospital, Mr. Russell said he was quite satisfied after what lie had seen that the extension and improvements were absolutely necessary if it was to be' the centre of health giving, and not for spreading disease. The old buildings should certainly be removed. He recognised that they were working at present under immense difficulties. In view of t.ien position he could not see the slightest justice in the Government forcing them to rate for capital expenditure. Whatever money was raised by voluntary contributions will be subsidised by 24s in the £. Sir. Russell then proceeded to discuss matters financial, and the offer made by Sir James Allen, when in Hokitika, to find about £IOO per .bed for soldiers beds. In the course of considerable discussion, in which members took part, the Minister suggested that an endeavour be made to obtain a loan from the Public Trust Department ot £7OOO towards the buildings required to be repayable at the rate of £235 per year, and with interest at 5g per cent. Of the repayments he would be prepared to find one-half, and by increasing the subsidy to 30s in the £, the Board would be able to pay the interest out of the maintenance fund. Maternity Home. —Mr. Russell proceeded that be also desired the Board to consider the desirability of leasing a building suitable for the Board’s maternity home in Hokitika. The late Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, in his humanitarian legislation, bad opened a St. Helen’s Hospital in Dunedin, where maternity cases were treated at a far lower cost than could be obtained otherwise. Maternity Homes had been opened at Gisborne, Invercargill and Napier, and be wanted to see maternity homes arranged for wherever possible, being assured that every possible help should be given mothers at such a time. He asked them to consider whether they were prepared to establish a maternity home m Hokitika, and if they decided to do so be was prepared to give them very substantial assistance

Medical Service, Kumara and Ross — He had visited Kumara the previous day and had found the home well managed, and its condition such that it gave credit to the Board and staff. That day he had been at Ross and had inspected the buildings there. He felt that at Kumara it was out of the question to re-open the hospital, but he thought they should do something, and he recommended that the people there could establish a medical association, which he would be prepared to subsidise, so as to. give them a certain amount of regular medical attendance. At Kumara and Ross he would like to see the establishment of a certificated nurse and midwife, who could live at the institutions in these centres, and arrange for them to deal with all maternity cases, making the charges for those needing the services as low as they consistently could. Ross Building’s.—He proposed to ask his officers to report as to the suitability of these buildings to be utilised as the administration quarters for a consumptive sanatorium for the West Coast. It was his sincere desire to help the district in the medical service, but as they knew the war services by drained the Dominion of over 300 medical men. It was his business to help and stimulate the health service of the district, and he assured them he was doing his utmost on this behalf. ' Hon. J. Grimmond urged the requirements of South Westland under the notice of the Minister, drawing his attention to the fact that though from Ross southwards they found over £I3OO in rates, they were without any medical service, beyond that of a nurse i the Waiho district. Mr. H. Williams said he had been asked to take a seat on the Board by the southern ratepayers, who wanted economy in the management of hospital affairs and they were opposed to there being hospitals at Ross and l Kumara- If a hospital was required for , South Westland they would wish it to be further south than Ross.

Mr. Russell said the real difficulty of his Department was that they could not get doctors for the outlying districts. On his return to Wellington he would consult with the Minister of Public Works i nd

the Architect, and then he would submit the proposals to the Government. Mr. Breeze moved a very hearty vote of thankgi to Mr. Russell for the excellent exposition of the matters affected, and for the co-opera-tion he had l promised. Seconded by Mr. Williams and supported by Mr Norman. Hon. Mr. Michel said there would be a feeling of gratitude for the visit in the community, and for the sympathetic and human© way Mr. Russell had met the Board, and for the splendid practical lid vice given. He suggested that the Minister’s Proposals be formulated and sent on to the Board as soon as possible. Hon. Mr. Grimmond also supported the motion, assuring the Minister of his appreciation of the course out • lined.

The motion was carried by hearty acclamation.

lion. Mr. .Russell in returning thanks, said he was under a double obligation to clear the position as far as the hospitalsi were concerned. He assured them that thei Government were determined that no cistriot should be penalised by the absence of their members on active service, and he would use that how to the utmost when urging the needs of Westland before Cabinet. Mr. Russell said he could not conclude without referring in a, place where his father had laboured so for the country, and where Captain Tom Seddon was a. member, to the ‘death of Captain Dick Seddon, the Minister making a. feeling reference to the loss of the soldier. The Chairman then moved that the Board convey to Mrs. Seddon its deep sympathy in the sad 1 loss sustained by the death of her eldist son. The motion was seconded by Mr. Norman, supported by Mr. Williams! and carried in silence, members standing.