Member Criticises Hospital Expenses

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 636, 12 April 1929, Page 10

Member Criticises Hospital Expenses

ARGUMENT IN WAIKATO LOCAL BODY ALLOCATIONS (Special to THE SUN) HAMILTON, To-day. Criticising as unnecessary the proposal to build a new administrative block for the Waikato Hospital, Mr. C. J. W. Barton. at yesterday's meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board, expressed disappointment that the estimates should show an increased expenditure cf £770. EVERY year that he had been on the board, he said, there had been an increase in expenditure. lie had looked for a reduction in the allocations the local bodies had had to contribute but now this new block \v; s ? u

Mr. Campbell Johnstone, the chairman of the board, said lie resented Mr. Barton’s criticisms. He ordered him to sit down, saying that Mr. Barton had always advocated the maternity ward and that the speaker himself had supported the proposal. The administrative block was necessary and it was planned to close the office in the town and build a new one at the hospital. He considered the £4OO increase in the local body allocations was extraordinarily small. Mr. Barton argued heatedly with the chairman, saying that the administrative block was a waste of money. Tinlaundry was necessary and the board was committed to the new ifiaternity ward.

After further discussion the estimate were adopted, Mr. Barton dissenting.

The board’s secretary, Mr. E. C. Johnstone, reported that the year had been successful so far as the collection of fees was concerned. The total collected was £14,945, an increase of £1,212 over last year and within the last eight years an increase in 100 per cent, had been shown in the fees. The Finance Committee submitted the estimates for the current year as follows: Expenditure, £69,315; receipts, £23,074. The estimated capital expenditure was £21,010, while the receipts were £4.028. The amount to be raised by way of levy and subsidy totalled £63.222. The increase in the amount to be raised by way of levy and subsidy over the previous year would be £770. The board authorised increases in salaries totalling £155 a year, affecting eight employees, while capital expenditure proposed included maternity ward, £10,000; administrative offices at the hospital and residential quarters for the junior doctors, £15.000: laundry buildings and workshop, £3,000. The estimates were approved-