HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23499, 13 May 1938, Page 12

HOSPITAL INQUIRY

BUILDING PLANS FOR WELLINGTON QUESTION OF FINANCIAL BURDEN (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 12. Evidence before the Royal Commission inquiring into the building proposed for the Wellington (Hospital was given to-day by the Wellington town clerk, Mr E. P, Norman. He pointed out that on the figures available Wellington was already more heavily burdened with Hospital Board contributions than any other city in New Zealand. Hospital extension should be as economical as possible, without loss of efficiency. The City Council felt that the Government should take a special annual contribution in addition to the usual subsidy in view of the widespread demands made on the Wellington Hospital. The council 'fully realised that something had to be done at the hospital, Mr Norman said, and made no objection to the changes. Its objections were largely due to lack of information in regard to alternative schemes and also to the possibility that no disinterested people had made a dispassionate examination of the effect that the board’s proposals ’ would have on the finances of the city. AN AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITY EVIDENCE TO BE HEARD (Per United Press Association) •WELLINGTON, May 12. A prominent Australian hospital authority, Dr H. H. Schlink, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital at Sydney, is to give evidence next week before the Royal Commission appointed by the Government to inquire into the present and prospective facilities in the Wellington Hospital district. • ’ This decision was made by the commission to-day after hearing argument ■by counsel on the relevancy of the evidence which it is expected Dr Schlink will give.