SOCIAL SERVICES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20465, 4 April 1938, Page 8

SOCIAL SERVICES

COST OF PENSIONS TENTATIVE ESTIMAE SURPLUS OF £3,674,152 -23 Based on Year Book figures, It is estimated that there will be a surplus of £3,674,152 to finance the free medical and health services, the new orphans’ pension and the increases in other pensions. The proposed tax of Is in the £1 should yield £7,109,250 which, subsidised £ for £ by the Government, will amount to £14,218,500. Expenditure on health, pensions, grants to friendly societies and sustenance provided for in the Buget last vear was £10,544.348. The Government’s commitments for social services for the current financial year, plus the hospital boards’ levies, are:—

HOSPITAL RATING PRESENT SYSTEM REMAINING? (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Monday “Nothing is mentioned of any change in the present methods of hospital control,” stated the Rev. W. G. Wood, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, commenting on the Government’s health and superannuation scheme. “Provided they are not varied, boards have no reason to be very concerned about the question. In fact, it would seem that there is to be the advantage of guaranteed finances. It might, be that the present system ot hospital rating will go by the board. If so, it will do away with the injustice of loading the costs upon property-owners alone, and the money for maintenance will come out of the Consolidated Fund. “Whether the right system is to levy a tax of one shilling in the pound on wages and income I am not prepared to say." PROBABLE EFFECTS PROBLEM IN RURAL AREAS A MEDICAL CRITICISM (Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday Reference to the effect on country districts of the Government’s national health insurance and pensions scheme was made by Dr. L. Ludbrook in an interview. Dr. Ludbrook has represented the Auckland division of the British Medical Association on health insurance matters. “A problem arises in the large proportion of population living in country districts,” Dr. Ludbrook stated. “Here, the question of mileage is involved and it would appear that the cost of providing medical attention in the Dominion is going to be much greater than in other more closely-settled countries. New Zealand provides a large amount of hospital service, 'but there is no doubt that the system is capable of a great deal of improvement, the small country hospitals often being both uneconomical and inefficient.” More Co-ordination Needed There was need for a much better co-ordinated system, but the Government had failed to investigate this phase of health administration which, in the opinion of the association, was of the utmost importance. The service would be available to every member of the community, whether he be millionaire or pauper. The association, however, considered there was a considerable proportion of the population which was able and which would prefer to provide a complete service themselves. Others in the more serious calamities of illness were at a disadvantage through the lack of free specialist facilities. Little Incentive Fears for the standard of attainment and ability on the part of the general practitioner under this system were also expressed by Dr. Ludbrook. He said that if a doctor were not required to perform the work to which he had been accustomed in the past there would be little incentive for him to •qualify for special work not required by the contracts. With no part for specialists in the insurance scheme, and with free hospital treatment, provided, the increase in the number of patients in the instiutions would be enormous and the Government had not indicated that there would be any alteration in the present methods of maintenance. In the opinion of the association, hospitals could be made more efficient and costs could be reduced by the provision of treatment in the home by general practitioner and nursing services.

Health Mental hospital Pensions National Provident & Friendly Societies Sustenance Hospital Board levies .. Total In the financial year which closed on March 31, 1937, pensions in their various classes cost New Zealand £4,940,428, under the following headings:— War Old asre Widows Maori war Miners Epidemic 253 Invalidity Boer War 2,067 4.106 Family allowances . . 130,730 War veterans’ allowan es 110,667 Miscellaneous 13,892 Total