HOSPITAL WORK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22700, 12 April 1937, Page 12

HOSPITAL WORK

THE KAIPARA BOARD FINANCES IN SOUND STATE PLANS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR [BY telegraph —OWN CORRESPONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Saturday A satisfactory position was revealed in the annual statement of receipts and expenditure submitted to the Kaipara Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday bv the secretary, Mr. W. A. Haden. Receipts for the year totalled £1(3,435 Ss 6d, which was £BO7 12s Gd more than was provided for by the estimates. During the year £10,420 4s Gd was spent on the Northern Wairoa and Otamatea Hospitals for maintenance and other incidental purchases, which, with other commitments, brought the total expenditure to £1(3,817. Tho estimated expenditure was £15,627 16s.

The estimated capital expenditure for the year 1937-38 was £3897. 'J he proposed capital works included £llOO for additions to the nurses' home and £275 for the site of the proposed new hospital at Dargaville. When estimates were being discussed Mr. W. Collins moved that £l5O be added for the building of extra accommodation at tho Otamatea Hospital. The motion was carried.

The erection of additions to the nurses' home at tho Northern Wairoa Hospital at Te Kopuru will be commenced immediately. The Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Eraser,. notified the board of his approval of the scheme.

Accommodation Taxed A record year for attendance in the board's institutions, notwithstanding the fact that there was a'definite decrease in the number of maternity cases compared with the two years preceding, Mas shown in the report of the medical superintendent at Te Kopuru, Dr. J. A. Marshall. Overcrowding had been very marked at times owing to the uncertainty of future developments. No extra accommbdation was provided for staff or patients during the year and only tho most urgent repairs necessary to keep the hospital in working order were carried out. It was decided to contribute £lO toward the King George Memorial Fund. Fall in Birth-rate Reference to a recent statement by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Eraser, that a most disquieting and depressing feature of the national statistics in New Zealand was the fall in the birth-rate, was made by Mr. W. Collins, who moved, and it was carried, that the Minister be requested to favourably consider as a first measure in any new legislation dealing with national health a provision by which free treatment would be made available for all maternity cases in all public hospjtals. Mr. Collins also moved that the board consider the possibility of reducing fees at present chargeable for maternity cases by 50 per cent during the current year. This motion was rejected. RATEPAYERS' BURDEN PROPOSAL FOR RELIEF THE MINISTER'S ATTITUDE [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] TAURANGA, Saturday The Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Eraser, in a letter read at the meeting of tho Tauranga County Council, acknowledged receipt of a resolution urging that the present system of finance under the Hospital and Charitablo Institutions Act should bo altered and that hospitals should be nationally maintained out of the Consolidated Fund. "The Government is desirous that there shall bo an equitable sharing of the cost of hospital and charitable aid as between contributions from local rates and contributions from general taxes," said the Minister. "I regret, however, that 1 cannot agree with the suggestion that ratepayers should be relieved of their fair share of hospital costs. In any review of the present system it is necessary that careful regard be paid to the division of administrative responsibility and control. Moreover, the apportionment of contributions in respect of these services lias to be considered in relation to the demands made on rates and taxes respectively in connection with other public services. "J may say that several measures alroadv, or shortly to be, inaugurated will undoubtedly have the direct effect of relieving local rates and of increasing the charge upon the Consolidated Fund in respect of social services—for example, the extension of pension benefits. including alterations in rates and qualifying conditions of old age, widows, miners', and war pensions, and the introduction of pensions invalids. Furthermore, as the council is probably aware, an important question at present receiving the Government's attention is that of national health insurance. and proposals in this connection are regarded as having a definite bearing on tho question of both local body anGovernment contributions for hospital purposes. Mr. C. H. Burnett, M.P., in acknowledging a letter from the council in regard to hospital rating, said that the question was being considered by the Government. He strongly favoured ratepayers being relieved of hospital rates. The letters wore received.