HEAVY COSTS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18670, 20 April 1926, Page 8

HEAVY COSTS.

♦ COUNTRY HOSPITALS POLICY. SHOULD IT BE REVIEWED ? The margin of expenditure for maintenance ovw the estimated requirements .in the institutes controlled by the North Canterbury Hospital Board for the year 1925-192*6 was £6060, and the estimated requirements for maintenance for the year 1926-1927 amount to £180,950, as against £175,520 for the previous period. This fact illustrates the growth there has been in tho work carried out by the Board. Against this is revenue estimated at £59,872. The table below gives a comparison in the levies: — 1925-26. 1926-27. £ s. d. £ 8. d. Lew .. 56,261 12 8 68,721 9 6 Subsidy .. GQ,794 7 4 62,366 10 6 £117,056 0 0 £121,078 0 0 The capital requirements were as under: — Christchurch Hospital: Potato peeler .. .. 90 Feed pump .. ... 140 Feed pump line ... 70 Generator .. 300 Armature for theatre fan .. ■ 40 JS'ew storey—Furnishing and equipment .. .. 1,528 Ward XL—Furnishing .. 1,633 Laundry—lroning machine 1,350 Engine room—"Permurit" plant .. ■• 750 Diet kitchen .. .. 287 Diet kitchen equipment .. 377 X-Ray plant ■• •• 1,696 Greenhouse ' .. .. 150 Waikari Hospital—Furnishings .. •• •• 45 Rangibra Hospital—Drying room .. •• ..45 Ellcsmere Hospital Coal and wood house .. ' 40 Akaroa Hospital—Extension and equipment .. 100 Sanatorium—Fire service .. 89 Extension accommodation patients' "rest hours" 150 Record room .. •• 300 Coronation Hospital—Maids' room .. •• •• I^o Enclosing verandah .. 90 J'Upper" Sanatorium—Play room • • ■ • ,• • I^o Tuarangi—Laundry machinery .. •• MM Charitable Aid—Motor-car for inspector .. •• 200 Infectious Diseases' Hospital —Tree planting .. 60 Sinking Eund-Xo. 1 .. 1,200 No. 2 .. 3,326 Radium Department—Consultation room .. 80 "Guy" truck •• ■• "» Total capital requirements— -_ Levy and subsidy .. 16,124 Total requirements for the f 137 202

Some Costs Too Heavy,

In presenting the estimates, Mr \N. E. Leadley said that the increase in the requirements over the estimates, was only natural. The requirements for the Christchurch Hospital were '£'2ooo less than last year, because there were several large items that would not bo recurring. The country hospitals had nearly all expended more than their estimated requirements. This was disappointing, but last year the estimates were cut down to the lowest point. He agreed with the chairman in that it ,was time that the Boards country policy ttas reviewed. The average number of patients m the Amuri Hospital was two, yet the Board had to. spend £1668., The expenditure on T.B. institutions had increased, but this was in the main due to an increase in the number of patients. • There was an added expenditure of £7115 on debenture interest and on superannuation. He had carefully revised the estimates, but he could not find a point on which' they could be reduced. For last year the levies of the metropolitan hospitals in: New. Zealand ihad been:—Christchurch, .240 d, Wellington .246 d, Otago .360 d, and' Auckland '.220 d. The increase in the levy for the Christchurch Hospital would'bring it up to the same figure as Wellington, and considering, that the Christchurch Board had more institutions under its jurisdiction, this was very economical. Mr F. Horrell seconded the adoption. Mr Archer thought that some of the cuts on the estimates were rather drastic. It ,was all very well for the Finance Committee to sit round a table and make reductions on demands made by committees who knew more about tne'matters than did the Finance Committee. It was scarcely likely that less money would be spent on the Christchurch Hospital than was spent last year. He considered, that sufficient money should be provided for reasonable expenditure. , . In reply, Mr £e.adley said that he had made it clear that there were several large items which would not be recurring., ; ,He thought ; that .the Christchurch Hospital could manage on the money provided. Anyway, it had to.' Mr W. P, Spencer considered that more funds should be raised. , The people who received the most benefits should be the most heavily, rated. The chairman (Mr H. • J. Otley): That is rather unfair, Mr Spencer. You know that the people who receive the most benefits from the Hospital cannot afford to pay. The primary principle of a hospital is charity. Mr Spencer: I was speaking of local bodies, not individual persons. • The estimates were adopted. • . Below is the statenjent of requirements for maintenance as against the expenditure of. the previous year:—

Requireture. ments. 1925-26. 1926-27. £ 70,000 Christchurch Hospital 71,959 Dental Department 4,738 4,700 Pathological Department 4,493 4,500 Akaroa • Hospital 2,021 l;800 Amuri Hospital 1,669 1,500 Kaikoura Hospital 4,809 4,000 Lyttelton Casualty Ward .935 900 Oxford Hospital 1,515 1,500 Rangiora Hospital 2,208 2,000 Wsikari Hospital 1,510 1,500 Kllesmere Hospital • 1,623 1.600 Consumption Sanatorium 22,557' 21,000 "0pper"- Sanatorium— Civilians 4,052 6,000 Fresh Air Home . 1,982 2,000 Tuberculosis Dispensary .. ■ .635 , 650 Infectious Diseases Hospital . . - ' ' • • 7,548 8,000 Tuarangi 7,441 . 7,750 Essex, Home 2,199 2,250 Memorial Home 6,229 6,250 Orphanage 1,695 1,750 Armagh street Depot 410 500 Outdoor Relief 7,465. 7,500 Special Schools . 308 350 Medical Subsidy and Dis trict Nursing 1.194 1,200 General Expenses 7,368 7,500 Accident Insuranco 300 300 St. John Ambulance Association 125 125 Social Hygiene Society .. 160 160 Christchurch District Nursing Association 400 400 Contingencies .. . - - Debenture Interest Refund of Subsidy S81 3,409 1,585 1.000 6,174 1,741 Superannuation ' 4,350