HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21101, 8 February 1932, Page 13

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

i Sir.—The heavy taxation and rates ultfa i "wkk** this country is burdened are eo | definitely crippling iqfhjstry and rettrd- | in? cur recovery that any avenue for | reducing onecononsic -expenditure will be | welcomed by the taxpayer and should be seriously examined by Parliament. Obb : ct. the most ins port ant proposals in this : direction was oat lined by Dr. Campbell Begg at the last of the Welling- . ton Hespital Board. Tfea., scheme he pat ' fcrwara would save a large sum annually . to both the general taxpayer indirectly ; and to the ratepayer directly. It in- | valves the abolition of 27 hospital boards | and the concentration of work into 33 j districts. His figures shew that the ' saving would be very large—no less, xn round figures, than about £500,000 per annum. Of thus, about half would be a direct reduction of Government expenditure. the other half would not need to be callsd for from the ratepayers. Com- | paring 1514 expenditure with that of last i year, allowing far the difference in tb® I vaiue of the pound and the increase in j population, present expenditure on hosj Petals appears to be £630.000 100 much. : Thus it does not seem unreasonable to | claim that £500,000 a year can he saved 1 —and the proposer of this reform states | specifically that this saving would not j decrease the efficiency of the service to i the public, but would as a matter of ; fact increase it considerably. | X.Z. Welfabje Leastt. , i i