HOSPITAL & CHARITABLE AID.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1917, Page 3

HOSPITAL & CHARITABLE AID.

► —_ Conference in Wellington. (Pm - Press . Association.—Copyright) Wellington, Jan. 10. A conference of delegates of Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards opened today with a representative attendance. - The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health, and Dr Valentine, In-spector-General of Hospitals, were also present.

Mr Baldwin, Chairman of the Wellington Board, who presided, urged that institutions should procure supplies on a basis of co-operative standardisation instead of through retailers, thereby effect-

ing a great saving. Mr Russell, in an address, said he was not sure they would not hare to tighten the control of the Government in respect of expenditure on hospital boards. He was not prepared to say' in what manner, hut it might bo in providing that all estimates of expenditure of boards must be submitted to the Government, also that important appointments must be subject to the approval of the Government.

The conference approved the standardisation as far as possible of goods and medicines used in hospitals and that the Department should undertake the importation and distribution of hospital supplies. The Minister considered the suggestions practicable, and suggested that a committee should meet himself and the Inspector-General to discuss details of the distribution question. The following remits were adopted :

“ That the Government be asked to repeal the fourth schedule to the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909, and to amend section 38 (subsection 2) in such manner as to provide that a more equitable rate of subsidy be paid throughout the Dominion on all contributions paid by contributory local authorities on account of expenditure other thau capital expenditure.” “ That au Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards’ Association be formed on similar lines to the Municipal Association of New Zealand.”

The conference in the evening adopted a report from the committee which conferred with the Minister on the question of the purchase of supplies. It recommended that hoards should prepare schedules of supplies obtained during the past year, under the headings of drugs and surgical requisites, furniture and hospital equipment, and other recurring items. The committee did not consider that it was possible at present to apply the scheme to provisions. It recommended that a committee of management should be set up, comprising the In-spector-General and other members of the Public Service whose Departments are large purchasers of stores, with the chairmen of the Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland boards or their delegates. It considered that at first purchases should be confined to the lines most largely used in all hospitals. Tenders should be invited by' tho High Commissioner for such goods as must be imported and by the secretary of the bureau for those obtainable in New Zealand, the cost of supplies in no case to exceed the amount paid by boards in the pi ‘ • ve-ir.