HOSPITAL FINANCE AGAIN UNDER FIRE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6613, 18 May 1928, Page 7

HOSPITAL FINANCE AGAIN UNDER FIRE

Folding Council Says Action Must be Taken HINT AT COTTAGE HOSPITAL “You know our ideas on the hospital administration.” said tho Mayor (Mr. E. Fair) when the Palmerston North Hospital Board’s estimates came before tho Feilding Borough Council last evening. It was an unfortunate thing that the Hospital Board could levy whatever rate it liked. He would say, however, that tho administration of tho Hospital was very well managed, but there should be some check on tho continual increase of levies. He could only move that tho report lay before tho Council for perusal. The Council had no control over tho Board’s expenditure but it was fortunate in having representation on the Board in Cr. Smith.

Cr. V. E. Smith felt that every councillor was acquainted with tho reasons for the increase in expenditure. During the past year the Hospital had been taxed to the utmost for beds, the demand for accommodation being greater than ever before. There was also the fact that tho Board had been compelled to take over tho control of the Otaki Hospital which would mean an expenditure of about £2OOO additional per annum, There was also tho Maternity Home and it was an unfortunate thing that Feilding had to contribute towards the maintenance of that institution. He was certainly opposed to the idea of the Home and ho did not think any Hospital Board could erect such a building and then request the contributing bodies to shoulder the responsibility of maintenance. The only thing that could be done was to pay up. Ho had not been on the Hospital Board very long and it took some time to get into the way of things and what struck him most was the opposition which was accorded applications for, assistance from places outside of Palmerston North. There was no hesitation on the part of the Board in spending money locally. As tho Council was aware the Palmerston North Borough Council made a great fuss about their extra levy, but he thought that was very short sighted policy on their part for Palmerston North was receiving the fullest possible benefit from the Hospital. If Feilding had been situated as Palmerston North is Cr. Smith felt that Feilding would have remained silent. ‘’However, we arc billed for £I2OO this year and receive no consideration whatsoever,” concluddc Cr. Smith.

Cr. H. Steward “Is is a fact that the Hospital Board is about to spend £3OO in laying down tennis courts?”

Cr. Smith: “I think someone has been drawing very largely on his imagination. On the estimates there is a sum of £35 for improvements to the existing tennis courts.” Continuing, Cr. Smith stated that there was a tremendous lot of building going on on the Board’s property and n that connection he had given the Board a “dig” about Feilding’s position and members of the Board did not appear to understand. The Board was about to call tenders for a new building to cost £IB,OOO which meant that immediately that building was completed another increase in the levy would follow! “I was somewhat disappointed at the last meeting of the Board,” continued Cr. Smith, “to iind so little discussion. Everything was brushed aside and I protested about being asked to pass estimates amounting to between £90,000 and £IOO,OOO in a matter of an hour or two. There was no chance of getting any idea of the why and wherefore of the expenditure. I have doubts whether it would not bo cheaper to have a small hospital in this town to relieve the congestion in Palmerston North.”

Cr. C. E. Taylor commented on the first appearance of a statement giving details of the distribution of patients and it showed Palmerston North’s advantageous position. It was seen that while Palmerston North only contributed twenty per cent, of the total levy it benefited to the extent of having forty-six per cent of the patients treated at the institution. Practically the whole benefit of the Maternity Home would go to Palmerston North and in the opinoin of Cr. Taylor- the outside contributing bodies should make the strongest possible representations to the Minister of Public Health to urge that the interest charges on the capital involved and the maintenance should not fall on the outside bodies.

The Mayor agreed with Cr. Taylor that Foilfling’s main object in protesting against the increased levy concerned tho Maternity Home. There was practically no chance of Fcilding using the institution. The Mayor could not see that tho charge for tho upkeep of tho Otaki Hospital could interest Feiiding. Before any further expenditure on hospital additions was authorised ho would like to see established in Fcilding either a maternity home or a cottage hospital. The discussion then lapsed.

Independent Commission Requested CE. ELIOTT’S NOTICE OF MOTION. In connection with hospital expenditure, Cr. M. A. ElioETt has given notice to move tho following motion at the next meeting of tho Palmerston North Borough Council: That owing to the heavy expenditure in the near future

proposed by the Palmerston Nortli Hospital Board and in view of the belief that the honorary medical staff and many other responsible persons are of tho opinion that a groat deal of this proposed expenditure is unnecessary and wasteful, the Government be requested to appoint an independent commission to enquire into the whole position and to take all necessary evidence. That the Government bo asked to I (1) restrain tho Hospital Board from ■starting building operations until tho finding of the commission is available; 12) in the event of the verdict being against the Board then to stop tho expenditure altogether. That all the local bodies on whom the Hospital Board levy a rate be asked to support this request by communicating with the Government. That Messrs. Nash, Linklator, G. Eliott and Field, M’s.P. be asked fo support the request.