OPOTIKI INTERESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19939, 7 May 1928, Page 11

OPOTIKI INTERESTS.

NEW MAIN HIGHWAYS. HOSPITAL PATIENTS* FEES. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT. J OPOTIKI, Saturday. The Opotiki County Council has been advised that the portion of the QpotikiEast Cape Road, as far as Saxby's, had been declared a main highway, and the Waioteka Road as far as the Pa. Other portions of the Coast Road will be added to the list when completed. The council has been advised that the Native Rates Consolidation Commission will sit at Tauranga, and the hope was expressed by the council that members would come to Opotiki. The Hon. J. B. Gow is to be asked to represent the council at the Counties' Conference. At a meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board, the medical superintendent, Dr. Budd, objected to the staff being asked to collect fees from patients before operations are performed. He did not consider collection to be part of the medical staff's duties, saying they were too busy looking after the patient to be able to talk of payment. Eventually the matter was left in the staff's hands to do the best they could. Mr. G. F. Joblin, a member of the Hospital Board, referring to the great increase ia hospital expenses, spoke of the urgent necessity of asking the Government to establish a Government hospital for Maori patients only in the Bay of Plenty.