HOSPITAL COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17754, 13 April 1921, Page 7

HOSPITAL COMMISSION.

THE OPENING SITTING.

WIDE SCOPE OF INQUIRY. [BY telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Hospital Commission opened its sittings in Wellington to-day, Mr. V. H. Reed, M.P., presiding. The order of reference includes the extent of the Government contributions toward the capital requirements of hospital boards and the basis of such contributions; the best means of meeting the heavy cost of proposed works; the extent of Government contributions toward the net maintenance requirements of the boards; the basis of the allocation of such contributions; the extent of the Government subsidy on voluntary contributions; the- extent of the Government's contribution toward separate institutions; the extent to which I the Government should make grants to various charitable societies and institutions; the fees to be charged for maintenance and treatment in pubhe hospitals; the establishment of paving or Private wards in public hospitals; whether the present constitution and area of the present, hospital districts and the grouping of local authorities is the fairest method of distributing the cost of base hospitals throughout the Dominion among the various local authorities; to what extent economy might be effected ty the adoption qf stricter business methods, more especially in purchasing medical and surgical supplies;. and generally as to any matter connected with hospital and charitable aid which may be referred to the Minister for Public Health The Minister, Hon. C. J. Parr, addressing the gathering, said the main reason for setting up the commission was the schedule of subsidies, which have be-n fovnd to operate inequitably. He did not' favour nationalisation, which would destroy valuable local interest. The Minister pointed out that in the Act of 1909 there was no specific requirement that the Government should pay one half of the maintenance charges of hospitals. The scnedule, which the Government proposed the commission should recommend to be snperseded by another, was based on £ for £ payments toward the upkeep of hospitals. The Minister said he was generally speaking in favour pf the scheme of subdivision in the Hospitals Bill of last year i"j v , officers of the department, would be free to give their evidence in the manner they deemed right The proeramme of the hospital boards of Sew Zealand at the present time involved contemplated expenditure of over £1.000,000 The Minister admitted that manv hospitals fZ w y . One did to penalise poor people, but those who could afford to pav Should pay a sum sufficient to cover the actual cost of their treatment.