GROWTH OF HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20968, 3 September 1931, Page 11

GROWTH OF HOSPITAL.

MARKED RECENT EXPANSION

COST OF OUTDOOR RELIEF.

THOUSANDS SPENT ON BREAD

Interesting comparisons between the size of the Auckland Hospital in 1902 and in 1931 were given by Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board, at a farewell gathering held at, the hospital yesterday afternoon. ''ln 1902 the number of occupied beds was 139 and the total number of beds 202. while in 1931 the number of occupied beds is 653 and the total number of beds 76tv' said Mr. Wallace. "In 1902 the total number of patients treated was 1661, and now it is 9763."

Tlie total cost in 1902 was £10,973, and in 1930-31 it was £141,400. In the former year the amount of money paid in salaries was £3300, and in 1930 31 the sum reached £70,214. In the former year the members of the nursing staff numbered 53 and the total hospital staff, including nursing, medical, clerical, kitchen, domestic, etc., was 95. In 1931 the nursing staff numbered 290 and the general staff 262, making a total of 552. Firstyear nurses were paid 16s 8d a month as against £2 10s a month now, and sisters £5 16s 8d a month as against £9 3s 4d to £l2 10s a month now.

Mr. Wallace gave figures showing the consumption of milk and bread in the hospital and at the infirmary and for outdoor relief, from March 31, 1930, to March 31, 1931. For the hospital, 61,100 gallons of milk, at a cost of £3057, had been bought; for the infirmary, 25,643 gallons, costing £1282, and for outdoor relief, 9840 gallons at £827. The total amount of milk purchased was 96,583 gallons, at a cost of £5166. With regard to bread, Mr. Wallace stated that in the same period 118,941 loaves of bread ha<| been bought for the hospital at a cost of £2268; for the infirmary, 70.766 at £1374, and for outdoor relief, 366,719 at £7664. The total amounted to 556,436 loaves, costing £11,307. For July alone this year the number of loaves bought for relief totalled 52.800.

"I do not know where the money is going to come from for outdoor relief, but we cannot allow anyone who needs food to go without," added Mr. Wallace.