THE HOSPITALS BILL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 5

THE HOSPITALS BILL.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S AMENDMENTS. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' PROTEST. (From Our Own- CoiHißsroxor.NT.) WELLINGTON. December 4. The amendments made by the Legislative Council to the Hospitals and Chadtable Institutions Bill came before the House for consideration this 'morning. The principal amendment made by "the Council was the deletion of clause 72, which gave power to Hospital Hoards {;> make agreements for s|>xul temis for the maintenance of members of frieu-.llv foeietiiw in hospital*. The Miniiilcv in charge oi the bill (the Hon. (!. Vowlds) moved that the amendments of the Legislative Council he agreed io. ]h explained that clause 69, which was .-still in the hill, gave Hospital Board* as much power in regard lo contracts with friendly societies as was contained in the clause that- had been struck, out. Clause 69. he pointed out, provided that a heard might contract for the payment to it by any other hospital arid charitable, aid bo:ird. separate institution, body corporate, society, or person of the cost of any relief, etc. It was pointed out by members that there was a, difference in the terms between the two clauses, and that it was by no ni3:mis certain tint clause 69 gave the power contained in clause 72.

Mr Fisher moved as as amendmentI hat the House dis.igr.ee with the striking out of clause 72.

After some further discussion, the Minister stated that ho was anxious not to lose the bill, and lie stated that if the House agreed lo his motion and passed tho bill in its .-, mended form he would before the iebse. of the session bring down a separate bill embedving the I'lawso that had been struck out'.

Mr Hemes Raid that there wis no danger of the bill being lost by the House, disagreeing with (he Council's amendments. H-p. thought that the Minister in sneaking of the danger of the bill being lost was onlv trying to frighten now members, f hev " should have a. conference with (ho Council. Mr Fowldr,: Thai is not correct. Mr Davey said that, if (he. Council would cut up the present bill it would cut •HI) mother, and ilw House would still bo in the Fame position. Mr Reed said (hat ho would like to hnvc a legel opinion before ho accepts tlw Minster's interpretation of clan?.G9.

Mr Baiiine said that he had wceivtd K-veral tek-gra.ms from Auckland cypresnig the utmost indignation' at the comvc taken by the Upper Ho««. and hm. em! (he ofh>r Auckland members to endeavour to have the clause reinstated -Mr Glover said that he also bad received a number of telegram, on the subject lhe Council in throwing out tit? cluure was doing wrong, and perhaps imperilin? its nosition.-fLaughter.) |r ot , ~, I'D- the Howe »hou!<| asMrt ils ",;. tion.

Mr Poland said that such an arrantnwnt as wa« provided for bv clapso '72 was already in force at the Thames IJ;a?pila!.

-Mr Bollard said that when l| lo Auckland Board made such a contract the Koyat Commission that inquired into fh» ?h-iu* of the Iwspiial | K ld that it w- S illegal.

Mr Jennings also spoke ngamel the action of the- Council.

Mr Massey opposed the action of the Council in striking out clause 72 lln could see no objection to specifically mondmg that frirudly society should' be empowered to contract with hosni*,., for (In- treatment 0 f their members for a yearly payment. Mr Stalin-willy declared that it was the. irfence of a osrlnin class which had ai,Mvl • [\ K rejection of clause 72 bv the Louncil.

Mr \\. Lra«r said he thought the otte Chamber had gone too far. ft COIIW put- in a provision tlmt anv agreem-ut ; esu.^ttoU, a p P ro™i of £

Mr Arnold referred to clause 69 on wmeh the Min«(«, relied as „ vin 7 the »ary pwar (;0 fl ,c„ ; lly%oci,t„rb.it- clause, however, referred march- to Srt' «"• ««nil members of the House di<l not ama that it would "K-le-ne friendly .societies. The Minister; in replying to Mr Herrie, t ,;" 7;- hfe , t f", l , BU:,fc " l ' tlr «« 7" a S ,c ' 0 t0 «io amendments Mr lowlds ivas speaking at 1 o'elo-k.' when

UNIVERSITIES AXD SCHOOL LECTURESHIPS. MORE UNIVERSITY CONTROL. (Fhoji-Oob OwTconnEwnxDUCT) WELLINGTON, December 5. 1110 claiiao inserted in the Hospital JJill I>.T the Legislative Council relatim- t„ medical men and students irads as follows :-<• 66 (a). With-respect\o any sdiool ot medicine or surgery which is under the control of the Uiiivcißity of Aew Zealand or which is under the confol of any college attached or affiliated to that ymversity, tho following p lo . visions shall apply : (a) The Minister mav li'Oin time to time appoint any professo'r or lecturer of that school as an honorary member of the medical or surgical stall al any institution under the control of any hospital and charitable aid board, ami may at, any time revoke- any appointment so made by him; (b) so lon- as miy sum appointment remains unrevoked the person so appointed shall, so Ion" as ie remains a professor or lecturer" of that school, be entitled to act 115 an honorary member of the medical or surgical staff of that institution ill the same manner as if ho I UK I been appointed by the board, and ho shall at all times he allowed free access to that institution for the purposes of the said school, subject only to such conditions and restrictions as the Minister from tune to time imposes. So long as a prolessor or lecturer of that school so remains an honorary member of the staff of any such institution al! students of that school shall, under the personal superintendence of that professor or lecturer,- and for the purposes of that school, _be allowed free access to that institution, subject onlv to such conditions. and restrictions 'as the Minister from time to time imposes." In connection with this matter the Hon. J. T. Paul has received the follow»ig telegram from the secretary of the Charitable Aid Board at Dunedin :- ' Clause inserted in Charitable Aid Hill will mean absolute university control. Loard has never stopped students from access, nor does it intend to do ;. 0 . V<m will oppose scheme; please reply." To this Mr Paul telegraphed :- ' Charitable- Institutions Dill has passed through Legislative Council, and thcreiorc too late for me to oppose clause mentioned."- '

.So far as I can learn tlicre is no serious objection to the clause, and there is every probability that it will be agreed to. Indeed, 'the Government has already moved that the amendments made in the Council be agreed to In- the House.