The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1945 HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 86, 3 July 1945, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1945 HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL

SINCE the enlightening bombshell regarding tne possiDin ties of merging the local hospital with the Waikato Board, and the attendant heavy reduction in rating which would result, was exploded at last week's meeting of the County Council, it is no surprise to hear the query on all sides 'why was this fact not discovered long ago? Why at the eleventh hour when the sum of £45,000 has been consumated in the building of the new Women's Ward, is this vital enlightenment suddenly unearthed as a tantalising bait to avoid future burdens of fresh expenditure ? These are the points which have been raised in both town and country, and they are readily enough understood, in the face of the procession, of controversial events which have taken place concerning the local hospital over the past two years. The answer is probably a simple and an honest oneit simply hadn't been thought of until the question of Galatea's transfer to the Rotorua Hospital district was under consideration and relative figures from other centres produced. The upshot is revolutionary to say the least. It means that over a long period of years the people of Whakatane whether resident in Borough or County have been paying almost twice as much to maintain and bund up their hospital than have the ratepayers in most of the other South Auckland towns of similar size and populations,, The explanation too, is as simple as it is logical. Every businessman and farmer knows that it costs more to maintain a single production unit than to maintain a dozen ot similar type grouped under the one administrative head. In actual fact, to set up a modern hospital in accordance with the high modern standard prescribed by the Health authorities will cost an individual group of a few thousands, much more per head than would a larger institution spread over say a population of eighty thousand. No one since the new suggestion has been given publicity has criticised the existing Board or institution for its handling 01 a most difficult and thankless task. The whole surprise is wrapped as we have said before, around the inevitable question as to why everyone from the Department down to the ratepayers themselves were asleep to the possibilities 01 a merging of hospital interests as a cheaper and more efficient method of service, for sc long.

PART PLAYED BY CARRIERS

THERE was a time when the Pacific Fleet could muster only one carrier. Lexington had been sunk in the Coral Sea battle, Yorktown at Midway, Wasp in the Coral bea. and Hornet in the Battle of Santa Cruz. A fifth carrier was elsewhere, and only Enterprise remained to take part m the historical battle of Guadalcanal last Novembei twetoT' months. More than 88,000 tons of seaborne flying field, with a total aeroplane-carrying capacity of some 350 aircraft, had been sent to the bottom. Today these nearly disastrous losses have been more than restored. And the ships out in the Pacific are now manned by veterans of those earlier carrier actions, who are putting into practice valuable lessons in tactics and operations which are whipping the Pacific Fleet's carrier force into a combat force exuected to play a stronger role thafr ever in this war. -

THE PRIDE OF SERVICE

TIME and again with the outbreak of a serious fire within the Borough the community realises with something of a start the immense debt of appreciation and gratitude it owes to the members of that purely voluntary organisation known as the Fire Brigade. Here, in our midst we have still bravely defying regimentation and the canker of dissected working hours, a. body of men pledged to the service 01 their fellows and happy to give it at any time. As townspeople we should never forget this fact for the work of the Brigade is still a shining example of selflessness in the midst of an age of material selfishness. It is a rock upon which we can still safely build our lingering faith in human nature.

EDGECUMBE'S GREAT EFFORT

THE remarkable feat of raising £2300 in a single concerted dr»ve for Patriotic funds brings Edgecumbe well to the forefront as an active and enthusiastic centre. This singular achievement serves as a splendid illustration of what can be attained within a limited area by dint of careful -organising, enterprising ideas and a full realisation of the meaning of local patriotism and community pride. There is no reason why the same rich result could not be attained in varying degrees by other centres in thft Eastern Bay by employing the same laudable methods.