HOSPITAL BOARD AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24275, 16 May 1942, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD AFFAIRS

Sir, —As a member of the Auckland Hospital Board I entirely disagree with the statement made by Mr. Allan Moody, viz., that the board is going to make an annual saving of £3OOO by purchasing the equipment and leasing the premises of the New Zealand Laundry Company, in Howe Street, for laundry purposes. As the Director-General of Health has insisted upon provision 4eing made for the washing and laundering of 80,000 pieces per week, the board, at its last meeting, instructed the constilting engineer to report upon the cost of extra equipment, the alterations necessary for the layout and installation of such plant, the amount of the present unsuitable equipment and its disposal when scrapped, ft is absolutely impossible for Mr. Moody or, indeed, anyone else, to form any opinion as regards a suggested saving until this report is received. Personally, 1 feel certain that again a huge mistake is being made and, considering that the financial year finished with an unwarranted deficit of £74.000. the present time is not opportune to experiment with a very doubtful undertaking. As the Auckland Laundrv Company has given a splendid service in the past and is willing to continue, to do all the board's work at a very reasonable figure, a new contract should be made for the duration of the war. Of course, if the new arrangement turm out a failure Mr. Moody can again increase the levy, and penalise the unfortunate ratepayer. In my opinion, it is high time that the board system abolished and hospitals managed by the ■ State. John Grnavrct.