DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18796, 18 November 1932, Page 2

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. reduction of districts. PROVISIONS OF BILL. WELLI NOT ON. Thursday. In the Hospital and Charitable Institutes Amendment Bill, which was •ead a first lime in the House of Representatives to-day, machinery for reducing the number of hospital districts in the Dominion is provided. Power is given for the appointment of a commission, consisting of a magistrate alone, or a magistrate and two other persons, to inquire into the following questions:—(a) Whether any two or more contiguous hospital districts should be reconstituted so as to form a smaller number of districts; (Ij) whether the boundaries of the districts should be altered; (c) whether any institution under the control of a hospital board should be restricted; (d) whether two or more hospital boards should combine to establish or maintain any institution. In recommending the closing of an institution or the restriction of lits relief, a commission must be convinced that the relief being given is in excess or requirements. If a commission so recommends, the Ciovernor-iieneral may, by urder-in-Couneil, abolish any two or more contiguous hospital districts and constitute a smaller number of districts, or one new district comprising Hie whole of the area included in the hospital districts abolished. Acting on a commission’s recommendation, lie may also alter the boundaries of any two or more contiguous districts by excluding any county from any such district and including it in another district. Further, if it is thought fit to adopt a commission’s recommendations either to close an institution or to restrict the forms of relief granted in the institution, Orders-in-Council to that effect may be issued, but no greater restrictions shall be Imposed than those recommended. Boards may be directed to combine to establish or maintain any institution which a single board may have established, but again such action may only be taken on the recommen Hion of a commission. Sucli an institution shall be vested in one of the boards to lie specified in the Order-in-Coun-cil. The forms of relief to be granted in such an institution may be specified by the Governor-General, and it shall be the duty of each contributory board to utilise the institution so far as accommodation is available for Hie reception 'or relief of 'persons requiring the forms of relief specified. Management of Institutions. Another clause relates to the disqualification of members of hospital boards. Previously, a person was incapable of sitting an a hospital board if he received from any contract made by the board over £5 in the case of a single contract, or £lO altogether in any financial year in the case of two or more contracts. A clause in the bill extends those limits to £25 and £SO respectively. A clause gives the right to hospital boards to contract with their officers and servants regarding their tenure of office, but any such agreement shall not exceed three years, although the right of renewing it is given.

At present, boards apply to the Valuer-General at the beginning of the financial year for a list of liie- rateaide value of their districts, in order lo strike rates. However, if this list were supplied at that time, it would lie received 100 laic for rates to he struck. Thus, the Valuer-General approximates the valuations as at December 31 Instead of at March 31. This custom lias been observed for a number of years, and a clause in Hie hill validates the continuance of the practice. To clear up legal doubt, one clause expressly states that it shall he the duty of every hospital board, at the direction of the Director-General of Health ,to provide and maintain such maternity hospitals and lo make such other provision for maternity cases as lie may consider requisite in any part of the hospital district, hut no action for damages shall lie against a hoard for its failure to conform to these requirements. Hours of Nursec. An alteration is made to the clause In the principal Act in relation to relief by a hoard of persons not resident in its district, for at least three months. In such cases, the hoard giving relief is entitled to recover the cost from the hoard in whose district lhe recipient- last resided for a period of one year. A clause in Hie bill extends Hie period of three months to six months. At present the cost of such relief cannot be recovered ivy one board from a hoard administering a contiguous dislrict, hut it is now proposed to remove that restriction.

r Phe cost, to a hospital of relief granted to an injured person shall he a charge on any damages lo which that person is entitled. Every such •charge ,slio!l lie enforceable by action by Hie hospital board itself. A clause provides that the hours of nurses in all public hospitals, and in all private hospitals recognised as training schools, shall he reduced to 56 weekly.

The name of the Jubilee Institute for tiie Blind is to be changed In the (New Zealand Institute for the Blind, according to a clause. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SINKING FUNDS BILL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WIdJJNdTn.N, Thursday. The Local Authorities Sinking Funds Bill was reported hark to the Legislative Uouneil to-day fr->m the Statutes Revision Committee without amendment. The Leader. Sir .lames I’arr, in - timated that the measure would he put through all si ages 10-morrow.