A STIMULANT TO ECONOMY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 2

A STIMULANT TO ECONOMY

IN HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION. During the past month (says the "Journal of Public Health") there have .beon protests made to tho Minister in two hospital districts from contributory local authorities, under Section 1-1 of tho Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1901, against tho levies made by tho boards of the districts to meet the estimated expenditure for the current year.: The boards in question were Wellington and Hawko's Bay. In both cases tho Minister held' a "round table" confer-' enco of delegates, from the protesting bodies and the hospital boards concerned. It may bo argued by tho cynic: Of what use are such conferences?—the result is a foregono conclusion, and' the local authorities have to pay tip and look pleasant. Such an argument, however, ; is iinsotitul. 'In both cases, after thoroughly discussing the .matters and considering the figures produced and reasons advanced for the increase in tho levie:t, the, objecting authorities resolved that they did not wish to pruceed further mid incur tho expense of tho appointment of. a commissioner ■to go into the matter, though in the case of Wellington it was resolved to ask tho board to reconsider its estimates with a view to ascertaining whether any items could be reduced. Further, such discussions end criticisms stimulate Iwards to overhaul their methods of administration and place their houses in order, if need be. Boards realise as fife result of such protests that their .methods uro keenly watched and ; criticised by those. responsible for raising the fluids.