ESTIMATES DEBATED

Grey River Argus, 30 August 1939, Page 5

ESTIMATES DEBATED

HOSPITAL COSTS Will They Increase ? [Per Press Association]. WELLINGTON, August 29. In the House this afternoon Hon. P. Fraser stated that, in view of the existing circumstances, he would ask the House to facilitate the passing of a fairly large number of Estimates, all of which were of Departments under his own control. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Nat., Kaipara), on behalf of Hon. A. Hamilton, who was absent from the House, said that the Opposition appreciated the difficulties which were faced by the Deputy-Leader of the House at the present time, and fully realised the heavy burden which rested on his shoulders. The Opposition was anxious to facilitate, rather than hinder, the passing of the Estimates, and to that extent Mr Fraser would have the Opposition’s co-operation. However, on broad lines of policy, the Opposition, on occasion, might find it necessary to divide from the Government, but the Estimates would be passed as far as the Opposition was concerned. Mr Fraser briefly thanked Mr Coates and the Opposition for their co-operation. Discussing the ■ first item of the Estimates, Mr W. J. Polson (Nat., Stratford) said he wish to register a protest against the Government s excessive spending, and he moved an amendment that the Legislative vote of £109,995 be reduced by £l. He contended that the Government was overspending the country’s capital, and was going ahead too fast. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo) supporting the amendment, said that the Government borrowing had been alarming, and its policy had led to higher taxation. On a division the amendment was lost by 34 to 19. Departmental spending was also criticised by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Central Otago). He suggested that provision should be made by the Health Department for preventing the occurence of sickness. The Government, he said, would be well advised to give more support to organisations that were concerned with maintaining the health of the community. Replying to an assertion by Mr Bodkin that a high percentage of applications in the police force had been rejected because of physical deficiencies, Hon. P. Fraser, said the number of fit men who could not be admitted to the force definitely showed Mr Bodkin to be incorrect. The Minister also said that a study of items provided for the Health Department showed that the department’s activities were •not curative so much as preventive. Work done by Medical Research Councils into the incidence of cancer, goitre and tuberculosis had been well worth while.

Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Nat., Riccarton) said he felt sure that Government members would agree that some items of expenditure could be curtailed. Mr A. S. Richards (Govt., Roskill): Which item?

Mr Kyle: The Legislative Council on page sixteen of the estimates. I am certain the Government will be in entire agreement with the Opposition in this respect, because it is only a short time ago that the Labour Party stood for the abolition of the Upper House. The first item was then passed.

The Treasury Department estimate of £48,208 was passed with little discussion.

The Audit Department vote of £42,979 was also passed. Discussing the vote of £14,500 for the Public Service Commissioner’s office, Mr Fraser, in reply to a question by Mr Kyle, said the Public Service Commissioner was anxious to bring about greater efficiency in the Public Service. The methods used in the past had been unsatisfactory and the Commissioner was endeavouring to find a way to indicate where promotion was deserved. He did not intend to adopt a system which would be unfair to anyone.

The vote was passed. Concerning the Marine Department Estimate for £204,112, Mr C. W. Boswell (Govt., Bay of Islands) appealed for better harbour facilities in North Auckland.

Mr Coates urged that some of the toheroa beaches in North Auckland district should be closed for a year, saying that, otherwise, these shellfish would become extinct. The vote was passed. The Electoral' Estimate of £14,000 was passed. When the Police Department vote of £625,000 came before the House, Mr Kyle urged the retention of mounted police for ceremonial and public order purposes. The vote was passed. The House then discussed the Health Department estimate of £1,537,000. The tea adjournment was taken at 5.30, and when the House resumed at 7.30, Mr A. E. Jull (Nat., Waipawa) moved an amendment that he Health Department vote be reduced by £lOOO. Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Govt., Oamaru), said Mr Jull had rendered the Government service by moving his amendment. Apparently'the Estimates under discussion had been framed before the Social Security Act became operative in respect of hospital treatment. He continued: “That will be a saving to the Consolidated Fund in respect of this vote, and a saving to local' bodies of a similar amount, because payment to hospital boards for patients at the rate of 6s per day per occupied bed will give an amount in excess of that which the boards are at present receiving.” He said that, accordingly, the amount that the Consolidated Fund would have to find would not be as great as the estimates set out. Mr Jull contended that the Government would receive a benefit, which would go to the Consolidated Fund, because of the absence of the medical benefits, which were not being paid, and because of the reduction in the sickness benefit, which would not come to charge to the same extent as was anticipated. Mr Polson said that members of the Government had stated 'that the total money in the Esitmates would not be required. Yet they said that they would not vote for Mr Jull’s amendment. Personally, he thought that, under the Social Security scheme more money would be required, and that new hospitals would have to be built to accommodate the increased number of patients.