OUR HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID SYSTEM.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12599, 13 September 1905, Page 7

OUR HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID SYSTEM.

CONDEMNED BY THE INSPECTOR

Tho Inspector of Hospitals and Charitablo Aid is this year, in his annual report, more emphatic than usual. Hi:t whole policy is comprehended m a i.utshell, which I send you fairly fully. Xi says tho Act under which this Department has been working since 18bo va-j r. compromise between the centralisinp tendency to strengthen the genera! Government and the provmci^ spirit, which had previously been the chief factor of the national development. >\hen tho Hospitals and Charitable Aid iSct wa-i beforo the House, the forces which made fo:- local control oi our public institutions were still so strong that any harmonious adjustment ot central control and the demand tor local administration war impossible. When tho provinces were abolished no attempt had been made to organise our system oi: local government to tit it for tho exercise of the functions which must devolve upon it. The chief: -objects aimed at by our Act were to limit by creating large districts the tendency t.j needlessly multiply separate institutions, and to secure equality and uniformity of taxation for buildings and mainteanco by direct taxation, lhe lattev of theso objects was successfully attained, so far as to cast half the cost on tho rates. An attempt was made to prevent the killing of charity by giving Special power to elect trustees and a subsidy of £1 4s. in the pound for voluntary subscriptions, but this has disastrously failed in its purpose, and tho power to elect trustees has m some place) been an unmitigated evil. &x----cepb in times of spasmodic activity, the subscribers dwindled and became indifferent, and their meetings vrere hole and corner conferences of self-seekers tj run tho institutions. If ever thenseat i wero in danger they were always a.bki to get back by being elected to represent somo of tho outlying local bodies. Tho results of this can only be surmised. Tho determination cf our people so characteristic of our race, to havo the control of spending the money raised by taxation in their own districts, has completely broken down— tho first of tho two main objects of the law. Every yeai1, in spite of my mcessairiP cfiorts to prevent the undue multiplication of hospitals and other charitable ' aid institutions.- > The expenditure was £259,G15, vand our total population is 908,114. Out-door rebel ought nn longer to be subsidised by more than n third, and should be abolished by a dato to be fixed. Our large hospitals should Bo made, to depend on direct taxes aud local contributions,, and our smaller, hospitals ought to be closed, a» tho means of communication make it 'possible. Only cottage hospitals should Lvt maintained in many places where fully equipped modern institutions are aimed at. Theso cottages should be centres for tKo operations of certificated nurses, who are also qualified midwivev and they could have trained helper.T sent from tho centres when bad case:? turned up which could not be sent at onco to the larger hospitals, and when night nursing would be necessary. A comparatively few properly emiipped hospitals could overtake all trio most important hospital cases; and tho others should be closed without hesitation. .