COST OF HOSPITALS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 43, 20 January 1942, Page 2

COST OF HOSPITALS.

SOCIAL SECURITY’S EFFECT. In the course of a speech at the Centennial Hospital ceremony yesterday the Minister of Health (Mr Nordmeyer) said it was widely believed that from the advent of the social security scheme the cost of conducting hospitals in so far as local authorities ware concerned, had increased. That was not °rhe levies imposed by hospital boards on local authorities throughout the Dominion was higher two years ago, before the advent of the social sccurity scheme, than it was now, added the Minister. This was in spite of the fact that the war had brought about an inevitable increase in hospital costs and administration. The total amount of levies two years ago was £I,U93,(XX) and for last year it was £1,065,000. In Palmerston North, the Hospital Board levy was this year £I4OO lower than it was two years ago. It was true, however, proceeded Mr Nordmeyer, that during the previous few years there had been a progressive increase. This was due partly to the fact that building programmes had fallen well behind schedule and additions bad to be made. Further, there had been betterment in pay and working conditions. Fiver,y penny increase in' 1 the expenditure was justified, lie contended.