MINISTER V. HOSPITAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2722, 17 March 1916, Page 6

MINISTER V. HOSPITAL BOARD

CHAIRMAN'S REPLY. ,The ohairman of the Wellington Hospitall Board (Mr. H. Baldwin) replies as'.- follows to' the" latest. ■, contribution: from the. Hon. J. A. 'Hanan (Minister of Hospitals and Charitable Aid) on the controversy on tho maintenance of indigent children: — . Your remark' relative to one of the matters'dealt with.'in my previous let-, ler, ' wherein; after , having expressed a judgment which directly traverses what r have* affirmed, you say "there is absolutely nothing to tho contrary but my own .statement," -represents_ a form' of argument so lacking in originality' as to reduce, the discussion to a level at which I must Leg to be excused from ;turther pursuit. _ ! Tho fact remainß, however, that the ratios of . increase in the'gross charges for the maintenance of indigent children and in the recoveries from parents are quite out' of proportion. Admitting' the correctness ot your, figures lor the recoveries for 1915, accepting your stipulation as to annual periods and then comparing 1915 with 1912, the increase. in,charges is: 31.8 per : cent., •while,tlio increase in recoveries is. only 9.1 per cent. _ ,-. My board has done; its duty; m directing' your attention' to this' noteworthy difference. —1 am, etc., (Signed) H. BALDWIN, , .. ■ ' • . . Chairman. . Tho Hon; Minister of Education, Wellington.