HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 420, 1 February 1909, Page 2

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

.; Sir,—Last, year &■ meeting of the contribnt-. lnglocal bodies to the Hospital ratej was held.: At tms.meeting.strong words were:used con-demning.-the unnecessary expenditure-on the District. Hospital.. . There was "evidently a good,' deal ,of, feeling. about the matter, and a : strong .objection ; to tho then ;mling rate. -It was; pointed out. that, tho rato' paid .by the Horowhenua County .was: almost- a third-of the whole .county. rate, - and : that .little East- , bourne,, with .its 250. residents, paid £73, or one-sighth of its whole rates; ■;'•:•.-■.- ; ,'-.. ' there is another schemei afoot..lt-is to spend,somewhere betweem £15,000 'and :£18,000:on a fever.hospital. Because a-feyer.. hospital in Britain costs tip to a maximum of £500 per bed, the chairman'of the-Hos-pital Trustees argues that the proposal: of the trustees to. spend .£2BB. per. bed is.-an eco- , mimical proposition.: He 'brings.- in the Health Department-to back his opinion. : Now, Bri-: tain has. to', provide. substantial hospitals on account of the rigour of the climate'.. In New Zealand fever'-patients would.,dp: far better in the-Seddon-shelters than in a; costly.self-: contained, brick: or stone building; it has been amply proved that the', "open' air" treatment of,scarl6t fever.reduces both, mortality' and 'complications, and .why, our .• handsome but- expensive ;.Health' Department; recommends, an almost out of date and abnormally, costly , building,.,when the people are already overburdened;- with. the hospital; tax, Jaud.; aimpstrip;,ii/.s.tate;of.;rebellion).is a question the local;-bodies varehasking,';-.:•.■'-•;•■. :■■■-■:■_< ;•;■"■ -^:. . ) ,.- ; Befpre.-this.gigantic'.un'dertaking is'decided-' upon the ratepayers Should be consulted,., and' the local bodies given an opportunity; :sidcrini?;it..; I trust Mr. Crawford.will call a conference of'local bodies this'year.—l 'am,. e^V:: : v;" ,:. ; ;',;■/•;,■-■■■■^μ: , :: '■■■.*■■; ■ i:,, : ■::■,;'■■ ■ ■■■ . /the muzzled 0x.,::