HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1387, 13 March 1912, Page 6

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

CANTERBURY PROPOSAL VETOED,

(By TolecraDh.-Preaa Association.! Christchurch, March 12. Tho North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board lias proposed to expend .£20,0(10 for an administrative block at the Christchurch Hospital. Dr. Valiutine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, attended and gave reasons why such a large sura should not be expended. Ho stated that the estimated capital expenditure to bo raised for hospital buildings in New. Zealand during the next five years was .£IOO,OOO, and that did not include the cost of maintenance. He had certainly approved of plans for tho administrative block, but had not imagined that they were to cost .£20,000. He considered that amount too great, and had, in consequence, thought it necessary to cut down the expenditure. It would'certainly be false economy to erect the building in sections if that would cost ,£3OOO more, but he considered that the question was whether the buildings were necessary. It was only a matter of time when Christchurch would have to have an infectious diseases hospital, and, taking that into consideration, ho did not con° Rider the erection of an administrative block a wise proposition. An isolation ward v;as much more nrcossarv. Those anxious for the erection of new'buildinfs did not perhaps realise that, during the next few years, it would bo necessary to spend JSS.OiXI in Christchurch as follow:— Infectious diseases hospital, .£12,000; administrative buildings, 420.O00; isolation ward, -£SO0; remainder to be spent in renovating present buildings. According to tho chairman, loral bodies would bo taxed during the next few years as follows:—This year, ,1'GOOO; 101.1 V'fioofl to JE7O0O; 1914, .£5000: 1915. .C 5000; iillO .t'sooo-a total of .£28,000, which with Government subsidy, would total .£56,000. It was remarkable, too, thai- though Christchurch v»s tho smallest of tho four big hospital centres yet it wanted I lie biggest and mo-t expensive administrative buildings. Wellington was nearly twice as large as Christi'hurch. as far as the hospital was concerned, but was managed with one-lmlf the accommodation proposed to bo established bv (he Christchurch Board. The wards of the Christchurch Hospital certainly required attention before (he mlministrativo tection. It was decided, after discussion, that further plans should bo prepared for an admini-trativo block estimated to cost from ,£IO,OOO to .£12.000. nnd, for an isolation ward, at an estimated cost from .£0(100 lo .£7OOO.