HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 8

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

MR. WALLACE RETURNS.

RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYED,

FRIENDLY SOCIETY FEES.

On returning from a three days' conference of the Hospitals' Association in Wellington, the chairman of the Auckland Board (Mr. W. Wallace) informed an interviewer this morning that matters of both national and local interest had been dealt with.

As president of the association, Mr. W illace led deputation to the Prime Minister in order to discuss the unemployment problem as it affects New Zealand as a whole. The deputation was formed by members of the executive, who are chairmen of hospital boards.

The belief that the time had come to deal with the problem 011 a national basis was expressed by the president. He said that the representatives of the various boards felt that relief for the unemployed should no longer be a charge 011 local bodies. What they favoured was some form of national relief in which applicants, who were able and willing to work, would be given employment in preference to money and food in the form of a dole. By way of showing that the position was still serious, Mr. Wallace mentioned that officers of the board in Auckland had reported that the number of unemployed had been increasing since Christmas.

The Prime Minister said he fully realised the seriousness of the position and added that special officers were looking into the problem with a view to recommending the best method for providing relief. Mr. Coates informed the deputation that these officers would take early opportunity of conferring with the secretary of the Hospitals' Association in order to become fully seized of the board's point of view. Various schemes were under review and it might be taken for granted that some form of action would be taken in the near future.

It will be of interest to members of friendly societies throughout the Dominion to know that a conference took place between their representatives and the executive of the Hospitals' Association with a view to arriving at a basis of agreement in respect of fees for hospital patients who are members of friendly societies. After conferring for about a day and a-half an agreement was unanimously reached in the form of a recommendation, which will be sent to societies and boards for consideration before final adoption. It is probable that the arrangement will be for a minimum charge per day to be applied throughout the Dominion. Plans for New Building. While in Wellington the representatives of the Aucland board submitted to the Department the plans for the proposed thAe-storey brick building to serve as a block for patients with infectious diseases. Although final application has not yet been made the plans have secured the approval of the representative of the Department (Mr Allen). The estimated cost of the block is £35,000 and its capacity will be GO beds. The proposed site is in the vicinity of the present infectious diseases wards. T.B. Shelters. As to the removal of the T.B. shelters from the Domain to the new sit© provided by tin Hospital Board, Mr. Wallace said that they were ready to proceed as soon as the Patriotic Association and the Red Cross Society had completed their negotiations with the City Council. The former had promised to provide a central block for the shelters on the new site and to this end they had offered to sell to the City Council the building in the Domain at present used for recreation purposes. Mr. Wallace said he understood that the council had offered something like £200 or £250 for the present building to use as a pavilion for tennis courts in the Domain, but that the societies had stated that if the offer was not increased they would move the building to the new site. "As soon as this point is decided," said Mr. Wallace, "the work may proceed."