LABOUR PARTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17787, 12 August 1929, Page 8

LABOUR PARTY.

HAMILTON COMMITTEE.

A SUCCESSFUL MEETING. THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. The Hamilton Labour Representation Committee met on Saturday evening. Mr W. H. Johnston, of Rototuna, presided over a large and enthusiastic attendance of delegates. The protest made by the Labour Representation Committee against the inadequate wage paid by the local council to the relief workers, and the reply received from the town clerk covering Mie decision of the Mayor and councillors was, after careful consideration, formally received. Hospital Treatment. A lengthy discussion on the remarks of the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, and the possibilities of the Government introducing legislation to provide special treatment for wealthy patients followed. Speaking at the Hospital Boards’ Conference in March, Mr Stallworthy said: “It seemed that the community hospital system nfust come, and that it would be accompanied by some system of hospital Insurance which would materially aid the finances; by intermediate wards, in which, for a reasonable charge and a moderate operating fee, would be accommodated by persons at present utilising the general wards who were able and willing to pay the cost of their treatment; whilst private wards would provide facilities at higher rates to the well-to-do, who at present were often" unfairly denied the advantages of the institutions, and oftentimes could not procure similar advantages elsewhere. Freedom of choice of the stipendiary staff, or of their own medical practitioners, would be a feature of the private patients’ portion of the institutions.”

As the system proposed by the Minister would introduce class distinction of the worst possible kind, and allow of separate types of treatment for the working class, the middle class, and the wealthy, and as the quality of treatment, attention, accommodation and surroundings is to be determined by social and financial standing rather than the need of the patient, it was agreed that the qualification for medical services should not be In any way dependent on the wealth of the person needing the attention. The following resolution, to be forwarded to the national secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, was unanimously carried: “That the delegates of the Hamilton Labour Representation Committee strenuously oppose any legislation that may be introduced by the Government that will have for its purpose the introduction of intermediate wards and private wards into our public hospitals, as such wards are direct means of providing special treatment for wealthy patients; and we maintain that no citizen should be barred from attention owing to his or her surplus of wealth or lack of it.” Court Missloner. Unanimous support is to be accorded to the Ministers’ Asociation in its effort to appoint a Court missioner for Hamilton and the Waikato districts.