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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3156, 9 August 1881, Page 2

At several meetings ot the Hospital 1 Committee of late repeated convnente have beeu made upon the consumption of s::pp';."■■■:. *.:->* ro e, .7sg , °sfioQ has been raa.ie as to the best method of keeping a check upon the in-comings and outgoings. The remarks that have been made by members of the committee have created an impression that, either articles are charged for by tradespeople for which no delivery has beeu giveu, or else that there have been wanton waste and wicked extravagance on the part of the employes at the hospital. In either case sufficient has been said to warrant a radical change in the general managemerit. It is absard to suppose that the public will continue to support an institution that, by the committee's own reports, shows itself to be a mere eink for the waste of money. Since Mr Smitb'e resignation of the honorary secretaryship the committee have invited applications for the office of secretary and collector ; no salary is stated, but applicants are to forward their own terms and conditions. The wording of the iuvitation exhibits both weakness and ignotance—weakness in not dictating their term** ; ignorance in not knowing what is actually wanted. What the institution really requires is a resident manager and secretary ; it is no part of the duties of either the matron or the surgeon to fulfil that office ; and the want of such an officer has resulted in the employes doing pretty much as they please, aad a piano being allowed on the premises. From the committee's advertisement it would seem that applications are expected from persona more or less engaged in busU vesa, and that he who offers to do the work at the lowest rate will receive the appointment. If that is anything like wbat is in view we venture to think the hospital will go from bad to worse. What possible check upon the delivery and consumption of supplies can be made by a 11 secretary " whose chief business would be to collect subscriptions for the sake of the commission? From what the members of the committee have stated it would appear that from £400 to £500 might bave been saved had tbe hospital been under some sort of management. Mr Smith said he had been powerless to check the extravagance that was going on. If he could not do it, how is it to be Buppesed tbat one having less authority, spending less time at the institution, and taking less interest in its welfare, could do any better ?