LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVIII, Issue LVIII, 4 December 1909, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

[press association J WELLINGTON, December 3. In- the Council this atternoon the Imprest Supply Bill was put through all its stages. HOSPITALS BILL. The committee of the whole on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill was resumed. At the postponed clause 72, providing that boards may make an agreement for special terms as to the maintenance in the hospitals of members of friendly societies, the Hon. Dr Collins took strong exception to the clause, which he said should not have been introduced into the Bill. He pointed o*ut that the* medical profession had not had an opportunity of considering the clause, which was one that was likely to disorganise the institution. The Hon. Samuel objected to friendly societies or any other body being treated exceptionally under this Bill. The Hon. G. J. Smitli thought if friendly societies wanted special advantages, the question ought to be dealt with in a separate Bill, not in a general measure of this kind. The Hon. Callan said there was not the slightest necessity for invoking legislation in favor of friendly societies. The Hon. McGowan hoped they would riot destroy a good Bill by introducing such a clause as this one into it. The clause would mean the foisting of { friendly societies' cjirohic cases on to hospitals and charitable institutions. The Hon. Baldey considered the clause exceedingly unfair to doctors. Dr Findlay said' &t\ present more than a third of the members of the friendly societies in hospitals paid nothing. At present they were unable to pay, and this clause would procure payment from such patients. If the clause enabled an arrangement to be made between friendly societies and the Board to pay something for every member in the hospitals, surely that was a good bargain. The Hon. Sinclair* said 'so far from being a good bargain for the hospitals, it would be the very worst that could be made. It put the whole thing down on a money basis, which was contrary to the spirit of the Act. The Hon. Paul could soe no wrong in looking at the financial aide, of the arrangement. The clause would benefit the poorer classes. The Hon. Dr Collins, to test the question, moved to delete the opening words of the clause. On a division/ after further discussion, the clause was lost by 18 to 13. A new clause was inserted, on the motion of the Attorney-General, providing for the unien of hospital districts. The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Council then rose.