HOSPITAL FINANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23997, 21 June 1941, Page 12

HOSPITAL FINANCE

INQUIRY TO BE MADE

RATING AND SOCIAL SECURITY Questions of hospital finance and rating are to be investigated by chambers of commerce throughout the country at the request of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which has in view representations on the subject to the Government. Of particular concern is the effect on the finances of hospital boards ot the social security provisions, and the measure to which the revenues of hospital boards are drawn from different sections of the community in city and countrv.

In 19;i9, the annual conference of the Associated Chambers adopted a resolution that, in view of the changed conditions since hospital administration was first made a charge on rates, it was of the opinion that the time had arrived when the whole cost of hospital administration should be borne by the State and made a charge on the Social Security Fund. Following this, the Associated Chambers asked individual chambers to prepare data on the subject, but action was subsequently postponed until now, because it was felt that sufficient time should elapse to test the working of the social security scheme.

A recent statement by the Minister ol Health, the Hon. A. H. Nordmcyer, to the effect a system should be evolved to stabilise borough and county rates and the provision of hospitals should be a national and not a local cost, was considered by the Associated Chambers at the time it decided to renew the investigation to be made by chambers into the subject.