THE HOSPITAL LEVY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17942, 22 May 1920, Page 6

THE HOSPITAL LEVY

PROTESTS FROM BRUCE AND OLUTHA COUNTJOfiS.

A mooting of ropresentativea from the local bodies of tho Bruce and Ciutha Counties waa held at Balolutha yesterday to further oonaidar what action should bo taken in view of tho increase in the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board lovy. i\i>:> wero present:—Mr J. LandeL« (aotin K for tho Mayor of Balohitha), IvDr T. Gage (Mayor of Kaitangata), Mr A. Ronnie (Mayor of Milton), Mr John, Begg (chairman Bruce, County Council), Mr J. Clark (Bruco County Council), Mr A. North (CKitha County), Mr A. 'S. Malcolm (M.P. for the district), and tho secretary of the Hospital Committee (Mr A. M'Donald). In tho absence of Mr Boyd, who presidiod at the conference hold a fortnight ago, Mr North waa voted to tho ohair. Tho Chairman said; that tho previous meeting waa adjourned simply in order that tho Jriowa of delegates from the various local bodies of tho t\wj counties might bo obtained. . Tho meeting originated from tho Balolutha Borough Council, whioh considered that dole'gatos should bo sent to Wellington to take stops to oppooo tho increased levy. Th> Cluthtt County Council had considered tho matter, but did not think much good was to bo achieved, as thev had no figures to show on what basis tho enormous increase in the levy was made, llioy wero out for separation from tho hospital district. However, ho would be ploased to hear what delegates had to say. Mr Malcolm said he felt very stronglv oppos?d to tho levy. Tho only real remedy waa, as tho ohairman had suggested, separation. The increase in the levy was bat one of several reasons loading the district to soolc separation. Ho was satisfied that ii tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board had beon in earnest to raise the largest rover"*

possible 'in tho simplest possible way, -.t would havo seen that tho due amount wus raised from the ratepayers of Dunedin. They nil knew that the ratepayers of Dunedin woro paying £8000 less per annum proportionately than, for instance, tho ratepayers of Clutha. Thev had set out with no intention of criticising tho Hospital Board. They believed they were cntitlod to a separate hospital district. However, ho felt suro that a very stroflg case could bo made out against the Hospital Board if this wew tho tiros for it. He felt suro that the board would eomo very badly out Af a general inquiry into its management. Just at prosent that was not th© essential matter. '1 h® essential matter was to get separation. They had already learnt how acute their opponents wero in seizing everv opportunity to shelve the main question and turn the - cussion into other channels. Mr Malc-olm referred to a number of resolutions he had received relative to tho proposed hospital levy, and theso he hn,d forwarded on to the Minister of Public Health, to le.t him soo what tho feeling of tho ratepayers was. He did not th.nk it possible to prevent tho levy, and suffswted it would be well for tho local bodies to content themselves with an cmphatic protest- in tho meantime, and turn all thrir energies to tho securing of a separate hospital district. Tho Chairman said tho socretary of tho Hospital Committee had" prepared tho following figures, which would show clear: how the lovy had increased: —

Tear. £ s. d. Tear. £ s. d. 1913-14 ... 12G8 9 7 1917-18 ... 2509 G 7 1914-15 1!>15 13 9 1918-19 ... 2995 3 2 191R-16 ... 1964 4 0 1919-20 ... 1559 13 » 1916-17 ... 2437 9 8 1920-21 ... 6283 3 3 In tho riding to which ho belonged (Catlins) tho valuation returns showed an increaso of practically 100 per cent, in the eoven years, so that what was done, for a penny seven years ago' now cost about lOd. ' ~ L Mr Clark expressed agreement with what tho chdirman and Mr Malcolm nad said. Iho valuation was the soro point; the man who improved his place waa the man who had to "pay the piper." There was no doubt that settlers in the bush country would suffer badly. There was nothing for it but separation. They could have four hospitals with three beds each for half the inonoy they -were at present paying. Moreover, every obstacle was placcd in the way of getting patients- into the Dunedin Hospital; it would pay them to send every one of their patients to private hospitals, Mr Clark moved tho following motion " That this meeting of represstativea from local bodies Bruce and Olatha protects most emphatically against the proposed increase in the levy on the local bodies for hospital and charitable aid purposes, and requests tho secretary to forward this resolution to the Prime Minister and Minister of Health."

The motion was seconded by Mr 'Rennie, who agreed with Mr Malcolm that tho proper time to send delegates to Wellington was during the parliamentary seaKion. Mr Eennie strongly favoured separation, saying ho had had several instances lately that satisfied him the time hitd arrived when they should hare a hospital of their own.

Mr Gape, taking the same view, said that what was wanted wu a hospital toilers their patients could bo nursed. The K&itanjata Hospital at presant was looked upon by the people as an accident hospital, and not as a hospital for siokness. The Kaitangata Borough Council would certainly (support tho proposal for separation. Messrs _ Landels and Begg ' expressed similar views, and the motion, on being put, was carried unanimously.

It was further resolved that tho local bodies bo recommended to appoint at least one deputy each to proceod to Wellington during the session to support. th» proposal for separation.

Th* Chairman ask«d Mr Malcolm- if ho could give any indication of when the Bill would come before the House. Mr Malcolm _ replied that 1m expected the House would meet on Juno 24, and tho Bill would raosc likely bo considered within the first six weeks of the session. He would be ablo to give, at anyrate, at least a we«£s notice of thedato of ..consideration.