HOKITIKA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1939, Page 5

HOKITIKA NOTES

HOSPITAL BOARD LEVY,

[OUR OWN CORIiESPONDENT.I

HOKITIKA, August 2d. A conference of representatives ol the Hokitika Borough Council. Westland County Council, Ross Borough Council, Kumara Borough Council and Westland Hospital Board was held in the County Chambers, yesterday afternoon, to discuss the- matter of hospital levies. Mr. G. A. Perry (Mayor) was in the chair. He asked Mr. E. W. Heenan (chairman of the Hospital Board) if he could give any assurance as to what extent the levies will reach, Air. Heenan said he thought that with careful administration .the amount of levies should have reached their peak. With regard to the proposed n£w maternity home, the Departfnent had been asked to allow the Board to defer the matter of building until a loan ■which had almost matured had been wiped off. The building could then be constructed without increasing the levies on the local

bodies. Mr. Murdoch, replying to Mr. Perry, said that the Government held out little hope of a higher Government subsidy. Air. 1. L. Turner said that, in his opinion, the wages tax could be slightly increased and the extra cost of administration of hospitals be borne by the public as a whole instead of the ratepayers only. Mr. Heenan said this also had already been ruled out. Mr. Murdoch said he and others on the Hospital Board had endeavoured to keep down •’costs. If an employee is covered by an award, the Board has to pay award wages. If the employee is not covered by an award, he held that no rises in salary should be given until the end of the financial year. He thought, a. resident doctor at the hospital would not increase costs, as those in private practice would not be so anxious to send patients to the institution. Air. Upjohn (Deputy-Mayor of Roks) said that no nation could be wealthy without health. He thought every working man was entitled to a fair •wage. The Council thought there might be some means unknown to them of economising, ajrd to find this out was the purpose of the- conference. He, too, thought the incidence of taxation was wrong. The ratepayers were “carrying the baby’’ for the general public. Mr. Elcock said the expenses in making the hospital first-class had been cut to a minimum and expenditure could not be cut down, without interfering with the efficiency of the institution. He contended that the placing of a resident doctor at the hospital -would mean an extra expense of about £lOOO a year. Mr. Turner said that a resident doctor should have been appointed years ago, but it was not too late. Air. Murdoch said the Government 1 should be approached again to allow a subsidy on bequests and voluntary contributions, as had Been allowed years ago, but which had been cut out by the Economy Commission. Members agreed, that all ordering should be done through the secretary. Air. .1. Murphy (Kumara) said the Old People’s Home in Greymouth was being run much more cheaply than the Westland Home, but he agreed that the total hospital costs were a different proposition. Mr. Turner moved, and Air. Upjohn seconded, “that a letter from this meeting, representing all the ratepayers of Westland, be forwarded to the Member for Westland, also the Minister in Charge of Hospitals, stating: In our opinion the hospital taxation is unjust and is getting far beyond the ordinary ratepayer, as it only taxes about half the population; and respectfully suggest that hospitals should be administered, the same as schools, from the • Consolidated Fund. We admit that education is necessary, but we believe that the health of the people is more so.” Air. Perry said the matter had already been definitely refused by the Government. He suggested (fiat the motion be changed to ask for a higher subsidy. The motion was put and carried. Air. Murphy said the Kumara people wanted a doctor, irrespective of what the Minister said. They were entitled to one, and intended to have one.

Mr. Spiers said a. doctor in Kumara was necessary. There were now eight sawmills in the district, and relying on Greymouth and hospital doctors was unfair and out of the question. Mr. Murphy moved a motion of confidence in the Hospital Board’s efforts to keep down all unnecessary expense.—Seconded by Mr. Upjohn and carried. * On the suggestion of Mr. Murphy, supported by all members, it was decided to; elect a committee of Messrs Murdoch, Perry, K. May ( Mayor of Ross), and A. B. Spiers (Mayor of Kumara), to wait on the Member for the district, to request him to recommend to the Minister that the subsidy on voluntary donations and bequests as allowed by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act of 1885, be re-establish-ed.

Mr. Murdoch said he hoped ‘•the Board would be able to live within its means and perhaps make a, reduction of levy next year. Mr. Upjohn: May it be true. Mr. Heenen, on behalf of the Hospital Board, thanked those present for the .vote of confidence in the Board’s assurance of economical administration, and promised it. would continue. A vote of thanks to the Mayor of Hokitika (Mr. G. A. Perry) tor calling the meeting, was moved by Mr. Upjohn, seconded by Mr. Spiers, and carried unanimously.