HOSPITAL BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2510, 23 April 1902, Page 13

HOSPITAL BOARD

A meeting of the Hospital Hoard ua» then held, Mi Millet presiding, and tlioic being al»o i»rc-< nt Mo--:'. Doniuston, Ma'tldiid, (lirrn, Sain-on Smith, and Lawrr-nc o. Tlie following letter \\a<- icad fiom tho Hospital 'iVu-tcf- • — 1 haw- the honour to inform \ou tnat at a. i.uctinv; ot tli" Hotpi'a! Tru-tecs, h*>ld on thf IGtii i/iatai.t, it w.is re-diver) "Tli.it the trustees urpi> to the Ho^pjtai Bead for the i-uin ot £6i'CH) for the niamteT.«ince of the institution for the finiUjLiiil year ending 31st March, 100T ' The gro-, ie<eipts for the last finan- ( m! \ear amounted to J-.71G1 odd. and the exnendituio foi the penod amounted to i>sfc-> The debit balance on the 31st M<uch last Aii'oinited to i-441. In submitting tins cituiKite to the favourable consideration of \oiu boa id, I am duecied to point out lli.it we h*d a rredit balance of £231 at the bf {•inning of the year 1900, and a debit balance of £21 in 19dl. Dm ing last year there was an i'icreu<-e ot £294 under the heading of " Pro-\i<-ion<., ' £59 m Silsmes, ' £203 in "Fuel and Lisiht, 1 ' ard about £'200 in " Stores and Furmttii(." The triifcteeh de«ire to assure your bruid tliut they have exercised economy as far a= was consistent with the efficient carrying out of thf- work of the Hospital, and the mamtauionre of the buildings in good condition. Contrasting with the total coat of the other hospitals in the large centres in New Zealand the following returns, taken from the In-spector-general's last published report, it i\;l) be "ten that Dunedin compares favourab'c in the amount expended. The amounts exceeded y.gig ag followaj.— £ji£>laud £H,fcS2

(including JE3SGO for buildings) ; Chri«* urc>/ £10,904 (mcluJing £797 for additions) ; ,-*JHuedin, £7989; Wellington, £13,602 {mcl'/cur-."-£1909 as additions to buildings). The Chairman said probably this had beeiw expected. Ho did not wish to elaborate^ what was contained in the letter to any, great extent, or take any strong part, as lie was chairman of the lio*pital Trustees'. The letter was explicit. The whole causa of the rise was due to the fact that thd trustees had gone on for the last three yearaj without asking for a further increase irt. their estimate when they should have a*sked for it. The cause of the increase was a general rise all round in the upkeep of the institution. There had been a general ris< in the necessaries' of life, as they all knewy The cost of provisions for -the Hospital had advanced £300 odd. and besides the trustee^ had this year taken upon themselves an increased liability in the shape of medical attendance. This yeai they thought it advisable to have a man of greater experience as hou~e surgeon, and the medical gentleman filling-that position previously had been reappejinted at an increased salary. In that respect there v>a= £100 that did not; occur last year. The tru-tees were asking 1 for an increase of £600. and after paying off the debit balance they would have about £200 left. Mr Samson asked if the rate struck last year over the contributing bodies would meet, this extra domu.nd. The Chairman r'.ld not think so. Mr Sam 8 on : It roft*ns, then, that you will strike an *xtra Icy upon the contri' bating bodies' The Secretary (.Vf.- G:v.>ian) : Ve s \ Mr Samson: 'Liiav (the contributing bodies) generally striV' a rate for thi3 i-peoial purp-Jic, and if tln~. is tho case they will have to pay out uJ the general Hinds. Mr Dcnnieton : It will not tome to much. Dunedin will bo the largest contributing body. Mr Maitland pointed out that the rateable value was always increasing. The Secretary: It will be \ery small on the bodies contributing — £600 spread o\er £751,000. The Chairman : If you attempt to reduce tho cost of the Hospital there will be a hue and cry that you are keeping from the patients what they require. The requisition was agre-ed to. The monthly contribution asked (or by the Hospital Trustees (£500) was passed for payment. This was £50 beyond the usual amount. The Chairman, referring to the list ff contubuting bodies, said it was not a bad one, but Milton and Ro«lyn were ;n arro.trs three month*. It was revived that Hio secretary i;.ke active step' to get in what \vn<- due up to the end of March, «md if necessary to sue for the amount*.