HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1773, 11 June 1913, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

Sir, —The statement made by the chairman of Ihe .Hospital and Charitable Aid 11; v i'ii, jaiii;; to justify tho increased levies and the board's administration, is on? of tho imcojivinei.:ig replies to critics that I have read. i( Kvidenl'.y the chairman felt lis had a very weak ease, and ho has my sympathy in the fact that lie was totally unable to make it appear strong. The thanks of tiio tommuuity are due to the Mayor of Lower Unit for bringing the subject before the public, and I contend that already good result has ensurd —i'lio amalgamation of the Government and Hospital Hoard's Bacteriological Department, th» caUkgram to Dr. liardwicke Smith cancelling instructions previously given to engage a bacteriologist, tho'defeat (on a casting vote) of e. proposal tj j)ay an honorarium of .£2OO per annum to the chairman, go to prove my contention. 11l the fame iof your paper that publishes the chairiruanVattempted justification of the beard'" methrds, 1 find the chairwoman of the Charitable Aid Committee protesting at bavin;; to pass an expenditure <it i-fjoo, the tUtails of which th-e committee knows nothing. In view of ihe revelations . recently made regarding the administration of the Auckland amf V.'estland Hospital and Charitable Aid Heard?, I think the Wellington Bcai'd would be well advised to realise thai a very uneasy feeling is prevalent in its own district. The chairman, I think, totally misapprehends the feeling when he says: "The sooner we let these local bodies knew that we have brought the levies down to a minimum the better." If that is the feeling of tho board it is time that, stops woro taken through I'arlianwnt to compel the boardto reduce its minimum requirement. No doubt it is nice to he.ve every luxury, and to feel' that "mor.ry is no object," but the private individual is compelled to practise economy until Ik coil afiord the luxury he desires. . In England some year? ago the scandal of escessiva administration expenses with regard to charitable movements became so great that a charitv organisation society was formed, with the express purpose of combating such a diversion of funds from tho real objects for which they wero •liven. —I am, etc., WILFRID SIvEGG. Ivarori, May 24.