INCREASING EXPENDITURE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14869, 18 September 1918, Page 1 (Supplement)

INCREASING EXPENDITURE.

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID

(From "The Colonist," Sept. sth.)

Sonic- interesting figures in regard to hospital and charitable aid: expenditure were given by the chairman (Mr: T. Nestle)-, at the monthly meeting, of the Nelson board yesterday. Mr Neasle said that the."average cost of maintenance per head in New Zealand had increased from £100 3s pei annum m 1913 to £109 6s in 1917, the greatest advances being in provisioning, but surgery, domestic service, and salaries also contributed to the increase. During the same period f!io expenditure'on charitable aid iiad increased from £97,470. m 1913 to t'L 13,612 in 1917. A comparison of bospital and charitableaid expenditure per head of the population over a period of ! ton years showed' that the- cost had in-jfli-ensed from 6s 10d to, 10s 11-Jd. The j number of cases under treatment in hospitals had increased' from 19,160 in 1907 ti> 87.955 in 1917, or an average increase per 1000 front- 1.66 in 1907 to j2.54 in 1017.

Comparing tho running of their own institution with other districts near their (;\vn population, vi., Bay of '-.lands, Cook, and Taranaki, the expondituro per'-head, cf the population was as follows : —Bay oT Islands, 6s 4£d; Cook, U:s 8d; Taran'aki, 7s 9d; Nelson, Gs GUI. The rate of subsidy received by Nelson from the Government was £1 Os 9d.

As to tho average duration cf treatment in tho hospitals per Led, Nelson camo up to 30 days, the eighth highest in the Dominion. The average number of beds occupied in tlio" Nelson Hospital was 68.89, which meant ah average of G8 patients a clay. The cosL ■ per bed was made up as follows :—Provisions, £21.83;. surgery, £4.38; domestic service, £16.83: salaries and wages, £31.70; or a total cost per bed occupied of £75.70, not' including capital e'xpenrUture.

In regard to the expenditure on charitable aid, the amounts granted for indoor relief by tlio boards mentioned above were as "follows:—Bay of Islands, nil; Cook, £842; Taranaki, £2009; Nelson £2056. For outdoor relief: Bay of Islands, £417 : Cook'; £296 ; Taranaki, £478"; Nelson; £1472. The annual cost of each inmate in the .Alexandra Home averaged. £38.76, not including capital expenditure. This amount stood at about the average, but was not low.