INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13859, 23 March 1907, Page 5

INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.

APPORTIONING THE COST BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTRY. PROTESTS FROM COUNTY REPRESJJNTATtVJJS. Mr 11. Y. Widdowson, S.JI., sat in tho -Magistrate's Court yesterday lor the purpose of hearing tho views of tho District Health Officer (Dr Ogston) and of the representatives of the various local bodice as to the apportionment of tJio oost of providing and maintaining a hospital in Dunedin for the treatment, of infectious disease eases. The inquiry resulted from a failure among the public bodies eoncorned to comc to an agreement mutually satisfactory. The following authorities were representedDunedin ' City, Mornmgton (Mr F. Anderson), Roslyii, Maori Hill (Mr >S. X. Brown, Mayor), North-hast Valley (Air J. Campbell, Mayor), West Harbour (Mr H. IS. Moollor, Mayoi}, St. lvilda (Mr\Y. J. Burk, Mayor), Hawksfiury (Mr B. W. Fell), Palmerstou Green Island (Mr AY. Geddes), Milton, Balclutha, Port Chalmers (Mr J. Mill), Waikouaiu County (Mr A. S. Orbell), Wailiemo County (Mr Moss), Taieri County (Messrs Salmon and Stevenson), Bruco County, Clutlia County, Peninsula Road Board (Mr D. M'Curdy), Tomahawk Road Board (Air J. Mathieson), Portobcllo Road Board (.Mr ,1. Dieksou), and Outram (Mr Snow). Kaitangata and Mosgiel were not represented. The Health Department was represented by Mr J. I<\ M. Eraser, the City Corporation by Mr W. C. MacGregor, I'almerston and AYaikouaiti County by Mr J. 1 1 . Kosking, Milton and Bruce County by Mr Donald Iteid, Balclutha and Clutlia County by Mr Stewart, and Roslyn by Mr Brent. Tho list showing details of the proposed allocations (which we have already published) was read. Tile town districts were included in the counties. It was [jointed out by Mr Suow that he had been summoned as an Outram representative, notwithstanding which Outram was not on the list. Mr jjYascr explained that Outram was included in_ the Taieri apportionment. Mr Hosking pointed out that town'districts had ceased to be part of the counties, and eventually an amended list was prepared, showing tho town districts and tho counties separated. OBJECTIONS.

The further objection was raised by Mr Hosking that under section 4 of the Health Act of 1904 the apportionment had to bo made by the direction of the Chief Health Ofiiccr. In the present instance the apportionment had been made by the District Health Officer, judging from the noticcs forwarded to the local authorities. Mr \V ;ddowson said a meeting of local authorities had been held. Sir Hosking admitted this, but went on to show that it was not called by the Chief Health Officer. That gentleman attended and made a speech, in which he offered reasons for commending the proposition to the local bodies, but lie issued no directions to the local bodies. The District Health Officer had assumed to do something, but 1 the proceedings shoidd not bo initiated in that way. The whole proceedings were irregular, as was proved by the absence of representatives of district town boards, through the Health Officer not haying specified the local authorities. The Chief Health Officer only could specify tho local bodies, a-nd all (.he .magistrate had to do at the inquiry was to apportion the cost 'among them. .Mr 3' rasei' put in papers showing the direction of the Chief Health Ofliccr to distribute the coat among certain local bodies. Mr Hosking said that- Dr Mason had misconceived Lis duties under the act. He had, roughly speaking, taken in the whole of Olago, with due consideration to tho benefits that would be derived by different districts. In regard to the question of the non-inclusion of town districts separate from their counties, Mr Hosking threatened to have its validity tested elsewhere. Mr Eraser was of opinion that, as all tlie local authorities were represented, it would be a. pitv to go through tho formalities acrain. In reply to an interjection from Mr Hosking that if tho inquiry were adjourned until Parliament 'met there

would bo an alteration in tho law, Mr Frasor remarked that it was very hard to say what, Parliament would do. Dlt OGSTOS IS THE BOX. Tho District Health Officer (Dr Frank Ogston) entered the witness box, and stated that a copy of 'Dr Mason's letter regarding l the meeting had been sent to each local body rated for hospital aid in Otago. In February a meeting of delegates from those bodies was held,- but no agreement was come to as to tho basis of payment. To Mr Hosking: Tho notice ho sent calling the local authorities together was supplementary to one issued somo time ago by Dr Mason. 'A similar course to tho present, was adopted without question in tho Southland district and in the North Island. Mr Hosking: T.lie whole proceedings arc irregular brrause there has been no appointment of the local bodies under tho amending act of 1304. Mr Frasor said the acts of 1903 and 1904 were identical in this rcspect. Mr Hosking: I simplv lodge my objection. I do not want time to be wasted over it. Mr MacGregor: It would be a public misfortune if the proceedings fell through owing to n slight technical difficulty which, I think, does not exist. After some further discussion of the point raised Mr MacGregor remarked that- the only local bodies whose rates couid bo affected by his Worship wore thoso referred to in tho original direction of the Chief Health Officer. If so, the incidence would fall somewhat unfairly on the survivors.

WHY _ COUNTRY BODIES OBJECT. Mr liosking said tho bodies ho represented objected to paying anything whatever, for the reason that they would derive rot ;ui atom of benefit. 'Jltoro wore parts of the country districts 40, 50, 60 miles from the eitv, and it. would be impossible to bring eases of infectious disease from theso places. They were prohibited by • tile act from travelling on tho railways or m public conveyances. Mr Fraser remarked that, it was a pity ■.these things shonld be hooked at from a ■ narrow and parochial point of view. In the event of the appearance of smallpox ■ or plague—diseases from which New Zealand had fortunately escaped up till tho present,—if cases were detained and iploaUx! at the port of entry, tho di6ea.se would bo prevented from spreading into the country districts. Mr John Mill was of opinion that whilst the local bodies objected to contribute £2500 for an infectious diseases hospital, there would bo no objection if tho cost wore something like £500. Mr Fraser: This is beside the question. We have to get a hospital, these gentlemen have to pay for it, and the question is, What proportion arc they to pay ? Port I am told, tastes a reasonable view of it—they take a reasonable view of everything. Mr Hosking said the apportionment should be so made in any ease that the city and suburbs woukl have to pay more than the list proposed. Tho country districts, though they would derive no benefit, were expected to pay one-third of the ■cost. Mr Donald Reid: Bruce and Milton object for tho same reason. We cannot possibly derive any benefit from an infectious diseases hospital crccted in Dunedin. I will go further, and say that the act does not contemplate making such local bodies contribute a 6inglo farthing. Mr R-oid, after dealing with the act of 1900 and the provisions of tho act. of 1906 in regard to sanatoriums, proceeded to IX)ilit out that tho Hospital Board had power to provide for infectious eases in the country at the risk of tlio local authority, whether the latter contributed to the hospital or not There were parte of districts affected so distant that a patient suffering from a- severe complaint of an infectious typo would die on the road if an attempt were made at removing him to Dunedin. COUNTRY HOSPITALS ADVOCATED. Mr Hosking called All,'in S. Orbell, chairman of the Wailcouniti County Council, who stated that ho objected in toto to the proposed allocations. The ratepayers in his district would be in no way benefited by tho hospital. Assessment on a population basis would be unfair, inasmuch as the population both in country and in towns was continually changing. The proposal that they should pay at tho rate of £3 13s 2d per £100 of expenditure oh the cost of the hospital had set. them thinking, and they believed that they could erect a hospilal for themselves on more advantageous terms They were prepared to erect such a hospital.' Dunedin and suburbs, seeing that thoy would derive far more benefit than any country district could hope. to. ought to pay at lease 75 per cent, of the cost, instead of 63 per cent. Dr Walter Hislop, of the Waihemo district, slated that it was much easier to isolate infectious cases in the country than in tho town, l'he only cases that- would bo likely to be brought to Dunedin from tlio country would be trlioso of oonsump* •fon aw! leprosy, .unless, .of oourse, thejsr

should be an epidemic of plague. The only epidemics thoy were likely to have they had already gono through—namely, sca.rlct [over, measles, etc. To Mr Froser: Ho was not aware of a. fever cam having been isolated in a dairy factory. _ A caso of scariet fover was isolated in an hotel, but was properly isolated. He admitted that an hotel was not the beet place possible for the purpose to it was better than sending tho patient all tho ray to tho city, with its grave danger to tho patient's lifo and chances of spreading {.ho <lisca«e. Mr Hosking having remarked that the present proceed,ngs had nothing to do with tho ■provision in tho country for-coun-try cases by tho Hospital Board, Mr Froser aid.he understood that the authorities at ; , in 'ccfoi« diseases hospital would undertake country c<ises, and would havo tho t to » nd " UKCS «*<> fit Tr"'" ?■' was nofc I™, it was S S! ce ' chIVRS ' perhaps ' lnol '° t0

DR iutchf.lor's views. Dr Stanley Batchelor, who then gave evidence, said the Hospital Board was bound by tho act to provide for cases of infret'ous diseases in the district. If an outbreak occurred at, say, Milton," an annli ration could bo ma<lo to. tho Hospital only failTh„ COlmt T cost CMYK'S itienai 0 "' 11 ZVSi • ' P raclical| y impassable in bad wea her parts of the countr" - James Ross, chairman of the'Waihemo County Connc'?, objected to tho . th ° „ con ntry districts would dr should? mi' wllatevcr > or that they John Mill °\! T!' t contr ibuic. Mr Mr D AT'P a> i°' ° ' and , 5 C ""'- v ako protested arainet the apportionment .proposals. (Tai«i) rS t' i r ° S ' C ' V <Brut ' e) ' M - Stevenson Mr Hosking described the wrooosed apport'onniont as entirely arbitrary hits nature. Iho Health Department had not Produced a particle of evidence to sl.mv that at had a right, to levy these monies upon the country districts. 6akl the of exntobftl \ BSt °"i W3S mndl mor ° It is"? fm Iv °V? lcnco ot nonexperts. Jin Tfc- " T^' orelll l'. in the aboenco of something much stronger than had been Hthn f Tf" s ' io i <k>pt tho wlcu,ntlut lla<l heen made by skilled lotions aCC Tf o!nc<l t0 suoh oaloulatlol,\. , was a misfortune that narrow parochial views should obtain in a matter 01 flucli piovmcial importance. Mr Fraser thought the country- bodies totally misconceived the position. Tho liospiral was.intended to benefit the whole of tho community; it iWO irid stand between the community both in town and country and infection. Let them assume for a. moment that they were sitting in that court (luring an epidemic ,of smallpox or plague. Ihei'O would be ail outcry immediately for a fever hospital in Dunedin. Tho "institution would bo as much a, protection to i the country as tnjlio town. Tho Magistrate reserved his decision.