LOWER COSTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 8

LOWER COSTS.

HOSPITAL BOARDS. £236,000 LESS LAST YEAR. MORE EXPECTED THIS YEAR. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. A steadily declining national expenditure on hospital maintenance and charitable relief is disclosed in official returns compiled by the Department of Health, this despite the heavy additional calls due to the general economic trouble. The, boards in the aggregate

were spending over £1,500,000 annually in 1928-29, but the downward tendency came substantially. with a drop of 20 per cent in 1931-32, bringing the gross total down to £1,270,000. This was equal to 17/ per head of the population. The persistence of the depression throws heavy responsibilities on the boards, but quite a number have already disclosed that for the year ended with March 31, 1933, they managed to keep within their "economy" estimates. It is therefore anticipated that the total expenditure for the past year will be about £1,325,000, equal to 17/6 per head of the population. Despite an increase of £77,559 in expenditure on out-door relief in 193132 (when the downward tendency became so marked), the maintenance costs in the aggregate fell by £167,887, or. 9.3 per cent compared with the previous year. Actually institutional maintenance cost £236,000 less for the year. "Although this decrease in maintenance expenditure is largely accounted for by salaries and wages reductions consequent on prevailing economic conditions, together with a decrease in the price of commodities, there can be no doubt," comments the Department of Health, "that improved methods of administration have contributed in no small measure towards decreased costs. Further savings are to be looked for in the present and succeeding years.' Hospital hoards since July, 1932, have been definitely relieved of the expense of maintaining able-bodied unemployed, and thus their finances are assisted, though the charitable aid aspect will absorb most of this saving if it continues to extend. In the four months of last financial year prior to • being relieved of sustenance payments to unemployed, the board spent £60,000.000 under that heading. Many of their economies, such as the closing of small institutions involving high expenses in relation to the service, will not be fully reflected in their accounts until the current year.