HOSPITAL DISTRICTS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1932, Page 2

HOSPITAL DISTRICTS

NUMBER MAY BE REDUCED

WELLINGTON, October 31

A provision by which the number of Hospital Boaru districts in the Dominion may be reduced will be contained in a Bill to be brought before Parliament this session. It is claimed that the Bill wdli ensure the better working'of hospital laws,’but no change in hospital districts will be made unti. after an inquiry. It is known that the Minister for Health (the Hon. J. A. Young) and the executive of the Hospital Boards’ Association have been in ’close conference .recently regarding the making of certain amendments to the Hospitals and Chaj itable Institutions‘Aetj'hnd'no doubt some of the re c ommendMioils ; of the National ‘Expenditure €’dmmis3ibji > ■will also be incorporated in the measure. However, it is fairly saf e to say that the Commiission’.s proposal for the establishment of a board of ho'pitals •will aiot 'be adopted. There .ore 45 hospital districts in the Dominion. Within the last year or two the number has been reduced by two —"ing to the merging of the Bicton and Wairau Boards and the reabsorption of Matakaoa by the Cook district. Before any reduction in the number of districts could 'take ‘place there would be a properly conducted inquiry in the districts concerned, open to and under the eyes of the public. All parties, interested would then be. given an opportunity to state their cases. Possibly the inquiry would be made by a Magistrate or other .suitable person acting as a Commissioner. After considering his recommendation it would >be for the Government to take such action as it thought fit. Prom wha-t can be gathered : it. i‘ understood that the Bill proposes no interference with the constitution or representative nature of hospital boards.