HOSPITAL BOARDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 197, 9 May 1918, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARDS

QUESTION OF ADMINISTRATION. /

STATE CONTROL ADVOCATED

The question of Hospital and Charitable Aid administration and tho constitution of hospital boards generally formed the subject or criticism at last night's meeting of the Onslow Borough Council. The matter arose out of tlie amount of the levy demanded i from the borough for the current vear by the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard. The Mayor, Mr. ,1. M. Dale, stated that last year's levy upon the borough amounted lo £ls>, whereas-tho amount demanded for the present year was ,£'slll. Although tho Onslow Borough Council was interested in the question of raising contributions towards tho funds of the board, it had but little say on the point as to how the moneys were expended. This was regrettable.

Councillor A. W. Palmer considered that tho Hospital Board as at present ooustitated was too cumbersome. There was absolutely no management, except lhat ol the .Medical Superintendent. The Hospilnl should be administered by a manager as a business concern on behalf of the board. He had heard that a great deal of waste in expenditure wns going on, especially in food items. The membership of the-board should be. composed of representativeo from each, of the local bodies iuteraled. ' Councillor B. A. Budd considered that the State should be asked io, wipe out tho hospital boarfls and assume control of hospital administration itself. Nothing short of that would »olve the difficulty. Mental hospitals were controlled by tho State, and it seemed inly logical that public hospitals should be administered by the same authority also. Under the present system one could not help having the suspicion that money was being unwisely expended, and that there was waste. Local bodies should' have«a larger voice in the expenditure of hospital and charitable nid funds. He suggested that a conference of local bodies should be held to discuss the whole qtieation of hospital ami chantablo aid expenditure and administration. Councillor E. Hobbs was of opinion that the adoption of Councillor Palmer's suggestion might load to confusion between the duties of medical superintendents and house managers. Ha supported Councillor Budd's proposal in favour of iState control. The Mayor moved that the local bodies concerned be asked to appoint representatives for .the purpose of discussing the whole question of hospital end charicain seconding the motion, Councillor A. B Topp said the conference might discuss the question of a larger bovernuiont subsidy or, in the alternate, State control. The cost ol living in Wellington was higher than in .otter cities, and that fact should be pointed out to the board in connection with the diction of assessing the amount to be contributed by the various local bodies. After further-discussion the Mayors motion was carried. ■ The Mavor then proposed that the council formally protwt to the Mmieter against the levy for the current year, on the ground that it is excessive. The resolution was adopted.