PUKEORA “SAN.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 104, 13 April 1933, Page 6

PUKEORA “SAN.”

HOSPITAL BOARD CONTROL MEMBERS VOICE OPINIONS COUNTY VIEWS DISCUSSED Special Representative.) A letter from the Waipukurau County Council to the Waipawa Hospital Board regarding the taking over of control of the Pukeora Sanatorium and expressing the opinion “that as a contributing body this council considers the various contributing authorities in the Waipawa Hospital Board’s area should be consulted on financial arrangements and ways and means before taking action” caused considerable discussion at yesterday’s meeting of the Waipawa Hospital Board. The council’s letter stated that the question was one that called for very careful investigation before the taking of action, as there was the possibility rtf further taxation being imposed on the ratepayers should the venture not prove a financial success, Mr Rathbone said that the proposed taking over of the sanatorium was in its first stages, and that nothing definite had been decided. The board, after considerable investigations, was awaiting a visit from the departmental officers. He thought that after that had taken place the board would be quite right in inviting the contributing authorities to confer with it and discuss the matter on a financial basis. MUST BE VIEWED FAIRLY. Mr Fraser: Do you think we cannot function as a hospital board without consulting the local bodies? The question must necessarily be viewed fairly, the chairman said; both the board and the local bodies were elected as the representatives of the ratepayers. Mr Fraser said that the members of the board were elected to look after the interests of the hospital, apart from the counties. He considered that if the board consulted the local authorities it might give the impression of lack of confidence in the board members. Exception to the wording of the County Council’s resolution, which he considered went further than it was intended to, was voiced by Mr T. P. Hunter. “I can’t understand the letter at all,” said Mr Fraser, who mentioned that there was no risk of the contributing local bodies being asked to pay rates for the sanatorium. Mr Hawthorn said that the writers did not know that there would not be a risk; all they knew was that the board was taking over an institution which was expensive to run and naturally wondered whether it would have an effect on their rates. The Government was at present running the institution, and although it had the guarantee of the patients’ fees, it was losing money. CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. It was suggested by Mr H. H. White that the letter be received and the local bodies informed that the board would meet them, when it could place the full facts before them. Mr Fraser raised an objection on the ground that it would be handing away the board’s authority and that some of the local bodies might not desire a conference. Considerable discussion then took place, and it was pointed out by the chairman that it appeared to him that the county was merely trying to get further information. He moved that the board reply that the matter was only in its initial stages and that there was no definite information available, but that all the contributing bodies would later be given an opportunity to go into the matter if they desired. The motion was carried after some further discussion.