HOSPITAL GOVERNMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 6

HOSPITAL GOVERNMENT.

011 his return from a world tour, during which he visited many hospitals, a well-known Wellington surgeon has made a list of what he considers are defects in our hospital practice, and attributes these largely, if not entirely, to our system of popularly elected Hospital Boards. These boards, he says, do not attract the best men, and should be replaced by boards of four trustees drawn from "men of standing in the world of finance or accountancy," who would be nominated by the city councils and the Government. Here we have expressed the disappointment which all of its feel at times with democracy in operation, and a preference, wfiich in moments of exasperation so many entertain,-for the dictator over the elected representative. But is there any certainty that under such a system the best men would be obtained ? Could local bodies and the State be relied upon to appoint better men than now offer themselves for election ? We greatly doubt it. Even if better men were found, the extremely valuable cheek of popular control would be removed. There may be good reason for this criticism of our hospital practice, but we cannot see why the reforms proposed cannot be introduced without changing the system of [ government.