HOKITIKA NOTES

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1939, Page 2

HOKITIKA NOTES

(Our Own Correspondent]. HOKITIKA, August 24. A conference of local bodies contributing to the Westland Hospital maintenance, was held at the County Chambers, there being present—Hokitika Borough: The Mayor (Mr. j G. A. Perry), voted to the Chair; Cr. J’. Turner, A. R. Elcock and the Town Clerk (Mr. Coles), secretary to the conference. Westland County: The Chairman (Mr. J. A. Murdoch), and the County Clerk (Mr. D. J. Evans). Apologies were made for Mr. Dale (indisposed), and Mr. Jamieson (absent from district). Kumara Borough: The Mayor (Mr. A. Spiers) and Cr. J. Murphy. Ross Borough: Mr. A. Upjohn (Deputy Mayor), and Mr. A. W. Peebles (Town Clerk). I Apology was made for the absence of ' the Mayor (Mr. May), and Mr. Mine- | han. Westland Hospital Board: Messrs E. W. Heenan (Chairman), and E. V. Hughes (Secretary), pre-J sent by invitation. The' Chairman referred to the increased burden cast on the local bodies, which had to pass’ the charges on to the rate-payers. The ! effect was crippling, and he hoped they could look for a reduction in the! levy, without impairing the ellicien-i cy of the institution. He felt the levy was now at. the maximum as far! as the local bodies were concerned. He asked Mr. E. VV. Heenan (chairman of the Hospital Board), if' he could give any assurance as to what extent the levies will reach. Mr. Heenan said he thought that the levy was now at its limit, and perhaps it could be reduced. There were lia-! bilities for maternity homes, but the' Department had been asked to defer the matter, till current loans were ■ paid off. At the end of the term the homes could be undertaken without an additional annual burden. Re- i

garding the local home, any excess of patients could be sent to the hospital meantime. South Westland had been asked to reduce its requests. If the Department agreed the action would assist the finances. With improved facilities for travel, the Wataroa expenditure might be deferred till it was ascertained the lowest cost to meet the needs. The Westland Hos- ; pital cost was the lowest on the I Coast. Mr. Murdoch said that the Government held out little hope of a higher subsidy. Mr. J. L. Turner said 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. Mr. Heenan said this had already been ruled out. Mr. Murdoch said the Hospital Board had endeavoured to keep down costs. Ifj an employee was covered by an award, the Board has to pay award' wages. If an employee was not cov-j ered 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. Mr. Upjohn (Deputy Mayor of Ross), 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, and 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. 1 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. 1 He contended that .the placing of a resident doctor at the hospital would mean an extra expense of about,

£l,OOO a year. Mr. Turner said that a resident doctor should have been appointed ago, but it was not too late. Mr. Murdoch said the Government 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 Com--1 mission. Members agreed that all ordering should be done through the ■ secretary. Mr. J. Murphy (Kumara) said the home at Kumara had been closed and sold, and a building erect--1 ed at Hokitika. The northern town also lost its doctor. 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. Upjohn enquired as to the proposal for a resident medical ollicer, Mr. Heenan replying such an appointment would be an additional cost. Mr. Murdoch thought a resident officer would only take in hospital patients. 11 might prove a valuable change. The Chairman re- ! marked the present system invited people to go to the hospital. At the same time the present system worked harmoniously. It was a small institution and accommodation would be requir ed for a resident doctor. Mr. Heenan explained that from the records the percentage of admissions was the highest in the Dominion at Greymouth and Hokitika. Mr. Turner moved, and Mr. Upjohn seconded., ‘■that a letter- from this meeting, representing all the ratepayers of Westland, be forwarded to the Member for Westland, also the Ministerin 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.” Mr. Perry said

ihe matter had already been definitely refused by the Government. He suggested that the motion be changed to ask for a higher subsidy. The I motion was put and carried. Mr. | Murphy said the Kumara people i wanted a doctor, irrespective of what the Minister' said. They were en--1 titled to one, and intended to have ! one. Mr. Spiers said a doctor in Kumara was necessary. There were ! now eight sawmills in Ihe district, and 'relying on Greymouth and hospital doctors was unfair and out of the question. Mr. Heenan supplied an analysis of class of patients received at the Westland Hospital. Women and children were 53 per cent, of the total; labourers 10 per cent.; sawmillers 8 per cent.; retired people 7 per cent.; farmers 4 per cent, and miners 2J per cent. The service at the hospital in past years was quite satisfactory, said Mr. Murphy, but now t»he cost was much higher. He moved the Board’s action in practis-

1 ing economy with efficiency be ap--3 proved. Seconded by Mr. Upjohn - and carried. It was explained that j since 1931 there was a seven per cent. ; increase in the mfmber of patients. • Mr. Murphy moved a motion of con- ' fidence in the Hospital Board’s efforts i to keep down all unnecessary ex- : pense.—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 1 that the subsidy on voluntary donaI tions and bequests as allowed by the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act of 1885, be re-established. Mr. Murdoch said he hoped the Board would 1 be able to its means and perhaps make a reduction of levy, next year. Mr. Upjohn: May it be , true. I