HOSPITAL FINANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23057, 7 June 1938, Page 15

HOSPITAL FINANCE

BURDEN ON COUNTIES REVIEW BY GOVERNMENT EAST COAST DIFFICULTIES [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] GISBOKXE. Monday A statement that the time would ax-rive soon when there would have to be some investigation of hospital finance was made by the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Eraser, in replying to a deputation from the Uawa County Council at 'Jfolaga Bay to-day. The deputation drew the Minister's attention to the increased hospital levy for the current year. The Uawa county, it was stated, had to find £2IOO, an increase of from £3OO to £4OO on last year, and it was suggested that the burden should bo more equitably spread. Copied in Australia The Minister said the hospital system in New Zealand was the best he knew of in the world. Although Australian States, particularly Queensland and Victoria, wero copying the New Zealand system, in some States the hospitals were supported by State lotteries. Ho did not intend to comment on thp sending of money from New Zealand for outside lotteries, but ho said it would be deplorable and regrettable for the hospitals in New Zealand to be dependent on moneys derived from lotteries. Air. Eraser said he did not claim that the New Zealand system was perfect, but lie held that it was the best possible in the circumstances of the Dominion. Central Fund Principle The Minister said he knew there was u pressing native problem, which called for special methods. Whether this should be tackled by the Government or by local authorities was a matter to btt discussed by the Government. ! The hope was expressed by the Minister that hospital expenditure some day would be paid from a central fund, and that the proposed additional tax of 4d in £1 on wages would assist greatly in overcoming some of the present difficulties. When the new health scheme came in, a re-allocation of hospital expenditure would be considered, and special problems such as those existing on the East Coast would bo reviewed. A number of those problems had been discussed for years, and would have been better tackled a long time ago