HOSPITAL UPKEEP

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1939, Page 6

HOSPITAL UPKEEP

- \ ■; • .. . , .-. : "»'*>;■ : I-' . \ ' FARMERS’ UNION PROPOSAL CRITUISED. ,\ DUNEDIN, March 8. The proportion of 'the cost of hospital maintenance contributed through rates by the urban and rural populations in New Zealand wax discussed:'by the president (Mr T. Jordan) at today’s conference of the Municipal Association. The Farmers’ Union was again advocating strongly and ' loudljr the allocation of the cost on a population basis, said Mr Jordan, although the urban districts ‘ were already 1 paying most’ of the money. ;

: "The Farmer's 1 “-Uuidn,” ' said:'. Mr Jordan, “still seems to think that the. farming community is '' paying"' ’ the greater- part of the bill. Ih fsict, tor Hear what some of them say'"”'one would think they paid the whole lot. 'Actually 'figures show that’ the tatic* of urban rating for hospitals to -shat of rural rating'is .51 to'49: ,i/; ' 4 \ * j A voice: '.‘What about patients? Who provides most of the. patients ? Mr Jordan: T am ndt.‘‘Coifcerned about the number of : patients.' 'T‘'am , 'dealing with' waiting 'a)nd : nfa'intenancer ! costs. • ••• .\'>v •:<4l

Continuing, Mr Jordan said that county councils 'and road boards paid ±.295,234, or 49 per cent of Th¥ total hospital gating. The remaining 51 per cent. } or- about “£306,727, ivas ‘ paid -by cities and boroughs;., i Those figures, he Jfelt;' were not generally l kn6tfti; s ‘bufc he thought that if 'they were there would be less' clamour by' farmers. 1 for rating on- a population' basis," especially since the proportions were urban 59.64 per cent, of population'and rufal : 40:36

percent. y:>'ln conclusion, Mr Jordan said that thej attitude of the Farmers’ Union was surprising in view bf-fth& fact '- that in 1936 at a conference' among the Municipal,' Hospital, r and’ Counties Associations the president; of ' vthe lastnamed (Mr ’C. J'.’ Talbot) said that the conference had been’ called itb settle such questions ;for 'all time.';?' Appafent- / the Farmers’ Union was not i prepared to take‘that view, " In his ‘annual report to the conference, the : president'stated' that -agreement had bebn reached between - '’the Counties Association and the" Municipal Association' that the ? GbVeru&ieat should he asked, tbconsiderrfiisingvthe

' whole of" the money required for ' hospital purposes by a tax on wages, and salaries, toprovide: an ■ increased ? subsidy. Unfortunately, owing to the early date of the General Election and the iiiterveUtion; of the 1 summer holidays, it was not possible • to arrange a convenient fixture" with, the Minister;' He had now received ran invitation to join the"' Counties 1 sociation in a deputation to the-Mini-iter : for Health on March 16,'which was tho earliest date that the Counties’ As- • sociation had been able; to arrange.