AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19476, 4 November 1926, Page 14

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

LARGE AMOUNT IN FEES.

PROPORTION ONLY COLLECTED.

Interesting details of the work of the Auculand Hospital Boasd were given by the North Shore representative on the board, Mr. W. K. Howitt, in an address to the Birkenhead Borough Council last evoning. : . i; - m \ :

' The hospital levy on the Birkenhead Borough for the current year, he said, amounted to £BOS. During the past 12 months 19 families at Birkenhead had been helped to the extent of £648. The number at Devonport was 18, Takapuna 17 and Northcote 14, making a total of 68 families assisted in the four North Shore boroughs. „

The North Shore ambulance cost over £IOOO, and the Devonport Borough Council provided accommodation for housing it. No charge was made by the' Devonport Ferry Company for the conveyance of the ambulance when crossing the harbour.

The annual hospital fetfs would amount to £IOO,OOO if all patients paid, but it was expected £30,000 would be collected, or about 6s in the £. No one was forced to pay who could not pay, but, on the other hand, those able to pay would not be allowed to shirk their responsibilities.

Mr. Howitt was accorded a vote of thanks for his informative address, the chairman remarking that members were surprised to learn of the amount distributed in relief in the borough.