HOSPITAL FINANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21399, 25 January 1933, Page 8

HOSPITAL FINANCE

The Auckland Hospital Board continues upon its course of financial irresponsibility. In spite of all influences brought to bear upon it for reasonable economy, in spite of the relief of the fit unemployed having been undertaken by the Unemployment Board, the present estimate is that the year's expenditure will exceed that of last year by nearly £6OOO, instead of being reduced by £30,000 as the board undertook last July. For the nine months to December 31, the estimates had been overspent by £25,000. The chairman endeavours to cloud the actual situation by concentrating attention upon the refusal of the Government to pay for the board's past extravagant relief administration, but the year's estimates provided for the refund of the £32,000 involved as well as for the discharge of the overdraft of £19,500. The position simply is that the board has failed utterly to adjust its expenditure to the levels which the times demand. The levy for the year has been slightly increased, but hardly by enough to keep pace with the extravagances of the board. The clearest proof of its lack of responsibility to the general community is seen in the fact that although for the greater part of the year the burden of unemployment relief has been carried by the Unemployment Board, nearly £47,000 was spent in outdoor relief for the nine months, which is only £15,000 less than for the corresponding period of the previous year, but £SOOO more than for the first nine months of 1930. It is obvious that the Hospital Board has imposed little check upon the semi-political raid upon its funds, and the inference is that many families are receiving local as well as national aid. The system of outdoor relief administration is much too loose to meet the present situation, and it is the duty of contributing- local bodies to press for its reform.