HOSPITAL SUPPLIES

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4406, 18 October 1934, Page 4

HOSPITAL SUPPLIES

BOARD’S BUYING POLICY. The principles followed in the purchase of supplies and requisites for the institution were the subject of a brief discussion at the meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday afternoon, when the Palmerston North Drapers’, Clothiers’ and Boot Retailors’ Association wrote stating that it had appointed Messrs H. L. Cuiminghame and At. N. Wallace to confer with the hoard on the nuestion i of hospital buying, and would be glad if a suitable 'meeting could be arranged. When the suggestion was advanced , that the deputation should meet a ( committee of the hoard, Mr A. K. Mansforil expressed the opinion that jit would ho desirable to discuss the j matter before the full hoard, when the policy followed could be broadly outi lined,, as there seemed to he an undercurrent of feeling about the matter. Mr G. A. Moiik asked what was the mystery of the undercurrent alleged to ! prevail concerning the board’s purj chases Surely it knew what it was duI ing. It was buying the best quality at

the best price. Mr Mansford said the board purchased on a wholesale basis. Whether it was legitimately entitled to do so, lie did not know. , The managing-secretary. (Mr A. o■ Pliillipps) said lie thought the association might want the board to buy through them on a 5 per cent, commission basis, as was done at some other centres. He thought the board could buy more cheaply under its present methods. Mr F J. Ryder said tyie mattei had been raised before, and satisfactory explanations had i always been-.-given. It was decided, on the motion.,of, Mr Monk that the association’s representatives should attend the next board meeting. “We are prepared to buy it they can compete,” lie commented.