The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1920.

Evening Star, Issue 17312, 27 March 1920, Page 6

The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1920.

It is announced that £90,000 will be re-. quired this year for the "Deplorable, but Otago Hospital and Unalterable." Charitable. Aid Board's essential purposes, and that It is necessary to increase by 50 percent, the already high levy on local bodies. The announcement is mad© with philosophical gravity. It just is so, and it cannot be helped. " They all deplored the state of things," declared Mr Talboys at the board's meeting on Thursday night, "but it was unalterable." In other words the controlling authorities disclaim all responsibility for the enormous increase in their "annual expenditure, and stoutly assert that if the hospital district wants' the best service and efficiency then it must be an expensive busineea. It is emphasised by way <>£ anticipating and meeting adverse criticism that nothing |s to be gained by blaming the board, for if critics gave the matter any thought at all they would see that the board were doing their best in the present circumstances. Well, it may be to burdened ratepayers and embarrassed local bodies a consolation to infer that the standard of efficiency and service in resnect to hospital and charitable aid affairs in Otago is perfect, but manv people will " hae their doots/' In the frank' statement of the Finance Committee"?, chairman there is reference to tho usual extravagant defects. " The present heating system at the Hospital is costlv and antiquated, over 2,500 tons of coal being consumed annually." Is tho heating system the only defect? Tho public will cheerfully support tho board's contention that the needs of the sick and the poor must be served without stint, irrespective of cost. But that is not the full duty, although it is the highest duty, of the administrative auhoriies', who doubless are seriously hampered by the forgotten stupidities of the-patch-work policy of previous boards. Economy in administration and organisation ought to be made a special study. Otago is drifting rapidly to a very unsatisfactory position. Rates increase enormously without a corresponding measure of efficiency. There is always something else required to yield full satisfaction. Perhaps it is a sign of progress, but let us ltope.it is a sign cf substantial progress. Even the Hospital Board, after their melancholy explanatic-n, express fear that not even a 50 per cent, increase in the levy this year will suffice for all requirements. One thing is clear in the "deplorable but unalterable" state of affairs.- Most of the financial handicap is due to the oppressive Cost of Living. Everything is up and will not come down. Is it not time that the Government revised their measured policy as regards subsidising essential public institutions? The present scale of subventions is hopelessly inadequate. If tho Government stubbornly pertist in refusal to curb so,rdid profiteering they must help more substantially local bodies and vital institutions to meet the needs o ? the helpless and tho oppressed people of'a prosperous country, even though it necessitate a special tax on profiteers for the purpose. We note with some surprise that the board assert that it is not part of their duty to approach the Government for increased subventions. It is a foolish attitude to adopt, it won'd be much more encouraging lo the ratepayers to see the board in earnestness and goodwill eagerly prepared to arrange a conference with representatives of '.he various contributory bodies and loc-.il so that a definite and impressive policy respecting subsidies might- be submitted to Parliament early in its first session. The board's financial position is disquieting: the burden to be thrust upon ,'ocal bodies is inordinately heavy : it is. therefore, the duty of all responsible parties to co-operate with a view to compelling the Government to do their duty in abnormal times.