HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES.

Northern Advocate, 1 February 1921, Page 6

HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES.

TO BE CONSIDERED :BY COMMISSION. THE ORDER OF REFERENCE. Wit,h reitfcuce to tne commission .vnicii is to taiv on me qucs uon oi suusiuies anu ottier matters ot pUOIiC nospitai aunumsi/rauon tue xoilOvving it-cter was react at a mecciig of tne Wellington Hospital iioard 11 om th.e Dii."eCk,or-uenerai ol xt'ealtli V-Ur. T. ±1. A. Vanntme;: — "Tn e '.Department is asKing t:.ooarus ot the tour chief' an J aiso tne WesUand iioard (ttte uoast being 'Dadly served as rdg-aicit: tne present rate of subsidies), eacn to send a delegate to express tneir views upon tne subsidy proposals. Tne Department ig also asking th«Waikato and Palmerston North boards each to send a delegate, as these boards receive a low rate of subsidy under the proposed scheme. It is felt that this will enable the views of all concerned to ibe thoroughly ventilated, .'but should your board desire to send a representative to give evidence I should foe glad if you woakl let me know, and I will convey y jur desir e to the chairman of the commission. The order of r< .-ference to the commission is aa follows: —

"(1) The extent to wliich th e Government should contribute towards the capital requirements of hosp-lai boards, and the ibasis upon which! such contributions should b e given j "02) (a) The extent to which the. Government should contribute towards the net maintenance requirements of 'hospital boards in the Dominion; (ib) the ibasis of -allocation of any such contribution amongst : ,ti a j individual boards. j

"(3) The extent to which th e Government should continue to subsidise voluntary contributions.

"(4) The extent to which th e Government should contribute towards the funds of separate institutions under the 'Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act.

"(5) Th e extent to which the Government should make grants in aid of various charitable societies and institutions.

" (6) The fees that should be.charged for maintenance and treatment in public hospitals.

"(7) The present method of allocation of representation of contributory local authority and the rat payers on hospital 'boards, having l' 1 -' • gard also to the nature of the suffrage.

"(8) The desirability, or otherwise, of providing for Government repr psensation upon hospital boards by means of nominated members.

"(9) The constitution and area of the present hospital districts, and whether the present grouping of local authorities in theivarious districts is the best and fairest method of distributing the cost of the base hospitals throughout th! e Dominion among "t the various local authorities.

" (10) Generally, as to any matters in connection with hospitals or charitable aid which may be referred to it by the Hon. th e Minister of HeaUh"