HOSPITAL FINANCES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 125, 28 May 1915, Page 3

HOSPITAL FINANCES

♦ — The finances of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board were discussed by the City Council last evening, and incidentally some interesting remarks were made concerning hospitals generally. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated that the amount of the city's levy this year would be £15,720, as against £13,027 last year, or an increase of £2700. The Mayor said he would not say that any protest should be made. The Wellington Hospital Board was doing work second to no other local body in New Zealand. He knew the difficulties under which the board was working. At present the Hospital was overcrowded and understaffed, and other arrangements had had to be made to relieve the congestion. Councillor Hildreth suggested that the councillors should see the full estimates, but Councillor Fitzgerald said that councillors had no right to expect a -perusal of those figures. The board was a responsible body elected on exactly the same franchise as the council. The demand was a statutory one. Councillor Fuller said that in four years tho levy had increased from £8000 to £16,000. Surely the matter was one for enquiry. Councillor M'Kenzie thought that all hospitals should be nationalised — at least, the matter should be thoroughly thrashed out. It could very appropriately come beforo the Municipal Conference. Councillor Wright said it was a serious matter, and should be discussed. After further remarks the levy was passed.