HOSPITAL FINANCE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18362, 21 April 1925, Page 11

HOSPITAL FINANCE.

A GOOD RECOVERY. REDUCING RATE DEMAND. To start its year with a heavy deficit-, conclude it with a substantial surplus, and find itself able to reduce the rate demand for contributing bodies by £1384 is the happy position in which the North Canterbury Hospital Board, at its annual meeting yesterday, reported itself to be. The welcome information was given to the Board by the chairman of the Finance Committee (Hon. K. Moore, M.L.C.), in presenting the annual report of the committee. He stated that at the beginning of the year there was a deficit of £11,865. This had been wiped out. Nearly half a million sterling—£479,ooo, to be exact—had been handled by the Board during the year, he stated, and the fees had increased remarkably. The total of the estimated requirements for the year 1925-6 was £167,875, as compared with £158,875 for the previous year. Of that amount £158,875, thfe sum of £157,709 had been spent, ana the credit balance was thus £1166. They expected that next year the fees would provide an equally good source of revenue. The committee had not had an easy time, but had found a tower of strength in the secretary (Mr W. S. Wharton). Following are the estimate's for the year 1925-6:

Christchurch Hospital' »« 58,500 Dental Department . .. 4,700 Pathological Department .. ■ 4,700 Akaroa Hospital 1,600 Atiiuri Hospital .. .1,400 Kaikoura Hospital... .. 4,000 Lyttelton Casualty Ward .. 900 Oxford Hospital .. .. .1,400 Kangiora Hospital ~. 1,600 Waikari Hospital .. .. 1,400 Ellesmere Hospital .. .. 1,400 Consumption Sanatorium .. 20.500 "Upper" Sanatorium .. 2,000 Fresh Air Home .. .2,500 Tuberculosis Dispensary .., 650 Infectious Diseases' Hospital 9,000 Tuarangi .. .. 8,500 Essex Home ... ... '2.250 Memorial Home .. .. 6,250 Orphanage .. .. 1.650 Armagh Street Depot .. 000 Outdoor Relief .. .. 7,000 Special Schools .. .. 350 Medical Subsidy and District Nursing .. .. 1,250 General Expenses .. 7.500 Accident Insurance .. 300 St. John Ambulance. Association .125 Social Hygiene Society .. 200 Christchurch District Nursing Association .. |. 400 Contingencies .. . .. 1000 Debenture Interest .. 4^350 Total .. tf .. £167,875 The Rev. J. K!. Arche/ congratulated Mr Moore upon his report, and upon the eminently satisfactory state of tho finances. Ho questioned, however, whether tho remission in the rate demand was advisable, in view, of possible extensions at the Hospital. The Medical Superintendent (Dr. Walter Fox) had stated that there had been no addition to the General Hospital for fifteen years. • The chairman (Mr H. J. Otley); It is my opinion that if wo can make a reduction in any way we-should make it. A motion was carried congratulating Mr Mooro on Ins report. The services of the secretary wore also referred to, and on Mr Moore's motion'it was decided to place on record the Board's appreciation of Mr Wharton's services.