HEALTH IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 13

HEALTH IN THE NORTH.

INSPECTION OF HOSPITALS.

MINISTER TOURS DISTRICT.

PROBLEMS OF ADMINISTRATION.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] KAITAIA, Tuesday.

The Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, proceeded from Kawakawa, via Ohaeawai, to Whangaroa yesterday, where he was met by Mr. J. W. Hayes, chairman, and members of the district Hospital Board. The Minister made a thorough inspection of the hospital, under the guidance of Dr. Lange, and later congratulated those responsible on the manner in which the institution was kept, also on the fact that there appeared to be so little sickness in the district.

A deputation from the Hospital Board, introduced by Mr. Allen Bell, M.P., placed before the Minister the difficult position in which the Whangaroa Hospital Board was placed on account of having a Maori population of. 919 to provide treatment tor. It was stated that for the seven years' period ended March 30, 1927, the net loss on treatment of Maoris was £1135. The board "asked for some special financial assistance from the Government to meet the Maori maintenance charges in question. Government Contribution.

The Minister, in reply, said he recognised that in a hospital district which was poor in rating value and placed like Whangaroa and other Northern districts, with a native population equal in number to the European population, the burden of meeting the cost of medical and hospital services for the Maoris was no small matter, but it should not be forgotten that the maintenance subsidy rate paid by the Government to the Mangonui Hospital Board was at the rate of 26s in the pound. Therefore, on the figures submitted, the Government would contribute 13-23rds of the £1135 cited.

Typhoid fever, which was, perhaps, the most common disease among Maoris, was, when treated by hospital boards, paid for by the Government at a schedule rate. Other services making for the treatment of sick Maoris and the prevention of disease among them were carried out by the Health Department without cost to the hospital boards. The question of special aid to hospital boards generally for treatment of Maori patients was- one of finance, involving a policy which would require to be very carefully considered. The Minister left by launch for Totara North, en'route to Manganui, by motor early in the evening. At Mangonui, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, members of the County Council and the Hospital Board joined in welcoming Mr. Young and later tendered him a public dinner. Rating in Mangonui. The Mangonui Hospital was inspected by the Minister, who visited all the wards and inquired into' details concerning the organisation and working of the institution. A deputation waited on Mr. Young, the spokesman, Mr. W. T. Wrath all, saying the rating impost for hospitals in the Mangonui. County was one of the highest in the Dominion and the new hospital, which had been saddled upon them at Kaitaia, meant more taxation, especially as the administrative cost under the board was excessive. He alleged that a staff of seven persons, including a doctor, were employed to run a six-bed hospital at Kaitaia and he asked the Minister to look into the position. The Amalgamation Question.

Mr. Wrathall said that before the Minister left the county representations would be made asking for the amalgamation of the Whangaroa and Mangonui hospital districts in the interests of economic administration.

Mr. G. Wilkinson, a Kaitaia ratepayer, said the hospital rate was killing to the county ratepayers and the only solution was to centralise the hospitals of the Far North. Mr. A. D. Clemett, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said he thought the four Northern counties should unite and have one large central hospital. Mr. C. J. Barriball said he knew some people in Kaitaia desired that the base hospital be removed from Mangonui to their town, but he considered that, with good roads and motors, Mangonui was easy of access and was the right place for the main institution. He considered the board had gone too heavily into the furnishing of the new maternity hospital at Kaitaia. Mr. L. J. Matthews, another member of the board, said he supported _ Mangonui as the central hospital and Kaitaia as suitable for a maternity home under the board.

"No Revolutionary Changes." In the course of his reply, covering the question of hospital policy, the Minister said it was evident from the statements made that he would find some diffei'ences of opinion regarding the policy which should be pursued by the Hospital Board. While he could assure them that he would not permit* any revolutionary changes which would upset their local body finance, he would withhold any expression of opinion regarding the Kaitaia Hospital until ho had visited that institution. He looked forward to meeting the members of the Hospital Board and discussing the whole question with them. The Minister arid party left Mangonui by motor at six o'clock this morning for Kaitaia and the Far North, where opportunity w;ll be taken to look into matters concerning the health and sanitation of certain Maori settlements.