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Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1917, Page 2

Ai’iioi’os of hospital management, the Westland board is not tho only one to find itself in financial troubles . Tlie Otago Hoard has just had its attention called to the condition of affairs by a series of tags which throw some light on the general management suggesting a state of drift and unconcern about revenue, which is the general cause of financial troiibib—tho want of funds to meet the liabilities. • ISo 1 tag records that in the opinion of the Audit office tho amount of outstanding fees uncollected is unreasonably high. When it is stated that- the sum under this head, owing for lour years only, is £27,042 it will he realised how serious is the drift, and what it means to neglect collecting revenue. W hile it will he admitted that a certain amount will he uncollectable and irrecoverable, included in the large amount referred to there must he many hundreds of pounds which should he got in. Ihe next tag is of an interesting character from an administrative point of vie"'. Ihere does not appear to he, says the Auditor General, any statutory authority where under friendly society members can receive 1-2183 worth of hospital service for ‘the annual payment of £330. This arrangement was somewhat akin, though on a more unsatisfactory financial basis than the committee system which obtained in Westland. A very great deal is given for very little, and the difference had to made good hv the ratepayer! Indeed the ratepayer has to pay all the time, whatever extravagance is indulged in by the administration. Tf members had in mind the fact ihat- they were dealing with funds which had to he provided by the public all the time, they might be a little i more careful. Tl the onus ol collecting ' funds were, on the Hoard members. (Here would lie ft different tale to tell.

Thk timber trad*' is one that will feel tho increase in railway freight rates to some extent, but to wha’t actual extent locally has not yet been ascertained. A well-known timber merchant, speaking to a Christchurch reporter, said that what the Government had done, in effect were to abolish all preferential tariffs and make one flat, rate fr.r all kinds of timber. Knowing that the trade has been hit lnrd by the war, the Government had not raised tmights holme this; in fact, at the last rise, some twelve months ago, he believed that timber was the only class of goods exempted The abolition of the preferential rates would, be thought, result not so much in a definite loss to any particular miller, but in a rearrangement of business, and some men might have to find markets. For instance, he might under the old preferential rates have been in the habit of procuring timber from the Coast. Being able to get it from the Coast, he might not find it necessary to raise the price, but if he still had to get- it from Southland, he would necessarily have to. The Southland man could not compete with a nearer source of supply, and would have to seek for markets nearer at-hand.