DEBT OF PLUNKET SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25444, 16 March 1948, Page 4

DEBT OF PLUNKET

SOCIETY

£6OOO NEEDED IN CHRISTCHURCH EFFECT OF INCREASED COSTS The Christchurch branch of the Plunket Society is heavily in debt. For the year ended March 31, 1948, it is estimated that there will be a loss of £1713 in the branch account and £2566 in the hospital account, a total of £4279, to which will be added £1796 in capital expenditure. In. addition two cars are in urgent need of replacement A special meeting of tne general committee (Which had referred the position to the Dominion executive for review) received an opinion that business had been carefully and (Economically conducted; but that continued increases in costs and a decrease in voluntary effort had caused the present debt. With increasing demands on the services of the society by the public, more nurses had to be appointed and a general increase in costs followed. t The Christchurch men’s advisory committee was asked to consider the position and"for them Mr Stewart Mair reported: “The cause of the trouble is easy to diagnose. The Government subsidy on the branch account is estimated’ on three-fifths of the salary of nurses employed. As the work of the society expanded, the excess to be found above the Government subsidy has increased and is beyond the present voluntary effort. In the case of the hospital, the Government subsidy is calculated as so much per head for patients. Costs of maintenance have practically doubled and the burden is again beyond the ‘ capacity of the voluntary effort.”

Expenditure Exceeds Income. Mr Mair said that the combined expenditure of the branch and Karitane Hospital was approximately £2500 in excess of income annually. Recommendations were: (a) the appointment of capable accountants so that the finances of the branch and Karitane Hospital may be carefully supervised and a financial statement taken out each month; (b) increasing revenue by exploring and tapping new sources, especially from the people on whom the benefits of the society are conferred.

Mrs Rose, for the finance committee, submitted figures which showed that the estimgies of the voluntary effort necessary for the year ending March 31. 1948, were: Christchurch branch, £3438 ss; sub-branches, £1507; total, £4945 ss.

The Dominion executive stated that a comparison with the figures for the Dunedin branch showed that the costs of the running of the Christchurch branch were normal and did not contain any excessive items of expenditure which need be examined or which, by themselves, would account for a deficit Although the number of new baby cases had increased by more than 50 per cent, between 1942-43 and 1947-48, the voluntary effort had not increased in proportion to the increased expenditure. With the hospital the position was more serious. Expenditure had increased from £5147 in 1942-43 t0.£8438 in 1947-48. Figures for 1946-47 showed that the Christchurch costs per occupied baby bed were high compared with Auckland. The occupied baby beds had increased from a daily average of 22.6 in 1942-43 to 25.9 in 1946-47.

As about £6OOO is needed to put the finances of the branch in order, the committee decided that an appeal should be made to all those who specially benefit and that* if possible, an organiser should be-appointed to help raise funds. A firm of accountants has been appointed as suggested.