INCREASED HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES ASKED FOR BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6953, 5 July 1929, Page 8

INCREASED HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES ASKED FOR BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Deputation to Government

GROWING BURDEN IS VIEWED WITH ALARM

A meeting of representatives of local bodies within the Palmerston North hospital district, convened at the instigation of the Kairanga County council, was held in Palmerston North yesterday, when it was decided to request the Government to increase its subsidies to hospital boards. Cr. J. Batchelar (Kairanga County council) presided and others present were the Mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) and Cr. J. Hodgcns, representing the Palmerston North Borough council, Crs. Hunt, Perrctt .and Boyce (Manavatu county), Mr C. Blenkhorn (Mayor of Levin), Crfs. McLean and Hair (Kiwitea), Crs. Hyde and Thwaites (Shannon), Crs. Strachan and Howell (Pohangina),/ Crs. Monk and Oat-Icy IHorowhenua), Moody (Kairanga), Mr C. Taylor (Mayor of Fcilding), Mr. N. C. Harding (town clerk of Feilding). The Oroua County council, Otalci Borough council and Rongotca Town board were not represented. Messrs J. K. Hornblow (chairman) and A. J. Phillipps (secretary of the Hospital board) were also present. Mr. Batchelar explained that tho Kairanga County subsidy had been increasing each year, . In 1920-21 it was £1359, while last year it was £3894. For the current year the levy was £3920, almost half of the total rates collected by the county, which amountcu to £SOOO. Up to 1925-26 the levy had been met out of revenue but since then tho county had been burdened with a special hospital rate to meet the call.

Mr. G. A. Monk (Horowhenua): Can you tell us also what the increase in your valuations has been? It is important that you should state that as well as the increases in levies. The chairman: I haven’t been into tho matter but there was a slight reduction since 1927-2 S. Hospital Activities.

Mr. Hornblow, said the question had been discussed by the board at different times. It was satisfactory to know that the contributing authorities with one exception, were satisfied with the administration of the board. Ho did not think there was much to fear with those at present looking after the Palmerston North hospital affairs. The Palmerston North hospital district was one of the largest in the Dominion and one of the districts which the Government considered should be the limit in size. It considered that the district should be left as it was. While the local bodies were concerned with roading and bridges the hospital board was concerned with something much more important, namely, the health of the community and with healthy people there would be increased production. The capital value of the district was approximately £31,000,000 and the population was 56,000 including 2105 Maoris. Tlio speaker traversed the activities of his board and said the administration was on sound lines. The hospital was over-crowded at tho present time and the board was reluctant to make further extension to the institution. Originally, the scheme of distribution of subsidies was on a flat rate of £ for £. Tho basis of the present scheme of subsidy had not satisfied the Palmerston North hospital district, as it ordy gave the board 15s 6d in the £ net.

Mr. Hornblow pointed out that of a total 2667 patients, 1290 had come from the Palmerston North borough, 235 from Feilding, 129 from Levin, 102 from Shannon, 110 from Foxton, GO from R-ongfiotea, 41 from Otaki, 154 from Kairanga county, 155 froit Oroua county, 39 from Kiwitea, 59 from Pohinga, 154 from Manawatu, 93 from Horowhenua and 46 from other districts. Some of the counties were contributing very heavily in proportion to the number of patients sent in. The same state of affairs existed in respect to charitable aid. Palmerston North and Feilding figures might be a little over-estimated as far as the- patients were concerned, as a number coming from the counties gave town addresses. From tlio Dominion point of view, going back to a flat rate subsidy would be a retrograde step, Mr. Hornblow considered. It had no logical economic basis and favoured sonic boards to the detriment of others.

The fiat rate scheme was discarded in 1909 and a new scheme formulated based on the rateable value per head of the population and rate of levy per head of the population. This scheme had failed dismally through tho intro-j Auction of population as a determining ' factor. The present scheme was form-, ulated in 1920, when population was disregarded. It was decided to give the highest subsidy in # the districts, where the levies were highest and un-j fortunately, the levy in the Palmerston North district was among the lowest! in tho Dominion. The total Now Zealand subsidy was reckoned on the £ for £ basis but proportioned out according to levy. The result w-as that some districts received more than £ for £ and others less. The speaker pointed out that New Zealand was only in its-' infancy in respect of hospital prob-' lcfns and expenditure would increases! each year. For instance, the Palmerston North board would soon be faced with a building to house incurable [ cases and extra wards for certain; diseases which were now treated in the | ordinary wards. Cancer would have to be grappled with An extra £BOO had! been spent on charitable aid and for! that reason alone, there was a strong claim for an increase of subsidy from £1 to 22s 6d. “We are not actuated by a policy of extravagance,” continued the speaker, “but by a desire for the alleviation of suffering.” Ever Open Door.

Hospitals were being looked upon more and more as community institu-

tions. The doors were open and nobody could bo denied admission, be ho rich or poor. The hospitals were no longer institutions for the poor. He suggested that the conference press the Government for an improvement of the position —-a 22s 6d average subsidy on a 17s GJ levy. This should receive the support of all boards. The i-ntrodwri..;: "i a population factor W ou!d no:, ii • iV-it sure, be a popular

one and rim (Government would not support such a move. The population was already contributing to hospitals through the Consolidated fund. Hu would like to see the maximum subsidy raised from 26s to 30s and the present minimum of 14s by ss. As a filial word, Mr. Hornblow asked those present to remember that there was no likelihood of the hospital rate being lowered.

Mr. Batchelar thought it would be a good idea if the matter was left in the hands of the Hospital board and for local bodies to back it up. Mr. Hornblow said he would be pleased to accept such a position. Mr. J. H. Perrett, with tho chairman, expressed appreciation of the explanation given by Mr. Hornblow of the Hospital board’s policy and work. A bigger subsidy was certainly necessary, especially in respect of charitable aid The conference was quite within its rights in asking for an increased subsidy. Very often the people in the large centres could not afford to pay more than they were doing, yet if •those people used the hospitals most, then the Government should pay more for them.

Mr. Taylor (Feilding) thought that any representations should come from the local bodies, with the Hospital board behind them.

Mr. P. J. Small (Kairanga) believed the health of the pcoplo should take second place to no other national undertaking, even education should not supersede it. The responsibility for erecting hospital buildings should be on the State. It would be quite a sufficient function for a' hospital board to administrate. ■

Mr. Phillipps stated in reply to a question that 11 boards out of 44 were receiving a lower subsidy than the Palmerston North board. Mr. W. llowoll (Pohangina) did not think the levies were distributed evenly enough. Palmerston North paid only £3 8s 7d for each of its patients treated, while Pohangina paid £2O Is 4d and Kiwitoa, as much as £59 10s. Mr. Taylor moved that the confer-cnc-c urge tlio Government to incTen.se its subsidies to hosipitnls boards to a minimum of 19s in the £ and a maxi' mum of 30s in' £, with an average of 25s in tho £.

Mr. J. H. Perrett seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. Question of Distribution.

Mr. Taylor thought that the present meeting was not the proper place to discuss the Pohangina suggestion of a re-allocation of levies. Any discussion would only resolve itself into boroughs versus counties. The Counties’ association, Municipal association and the Government could set tip the mattCT. Mr. Howell said he did not want to raise antagonism between town and country but a discussion might lead to an understanding. He proposed that a commission be set up. Conditions had altered a good deal since the last commission.

Mr. Strachan (Pohangina) thought Mr. Hornblow had cleared up a good deal of misunderstanding and as far as he was concerned, he was prepared to let the matter rest.

The motion lapsed. Mr. A. J. Graham (Palmerston N.) moved that a deputation, comprising the mayors and chairmen of the various local bodies in the district, wait upon the Government in connection -with the demand for bigger subsidies.

Mr. Monk said he would like to see something done to embrace the whole of the local bodies in the Dominion. A Now Zealand-wide opinion in favour of bigger subsidies would frighten thp Government. The Municipal and Counties associations had discussed tho same matter and yet had not done anything. The speaker suggested approaching tho other local bodies to get their support. He would not like to see the movement die because it was small.

It would be unwise, thought Mr. Taylor, to shelve the matter until the consideration of the other local bodies in Now Zealand could bo secured. The Municipal association was of opinion that the whole of the cost of hospital administration should be borne by the Government . The present conference would set the ball rolling and earn the blessing of the rest of the Dominion, A New Zealand opinion would be too unwieldy. Messrs Hyde (Shannon), Howell (Pohangina) and Hair (Kiwitea) supported Mr. Monk, while Mr. McLean (Kiwitea) favoured immediate action.

Mr. Perrctt advised both steps being taken.

As a compromise, Mr. Monk suggested that when the Minister was approached, the deputation ask the latter to place tho matter before a conference of the Municipal and Counties associations for opinion. There should be no dissention in asking for a higher subsidy. The meeting adopted Mr. Monk’s suggestion.