The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1926. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1926. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

Somk surprise will he lelt by those interested that it has been found necessary to again increase the levies for hospital maintenance. It was hoped that with the building scheme completed, and the economies believed to be enforced by centralisation and other methods of concentration, that the needs for substantially increasing the demands on the local bodies had pushed. F row the figures supplied at tire Board meeting, it would be seen that there is considerable fluctuation in the figures affecting the local bodies. The Hokitika Borough Council has to bear the brunt of the increase, due to the fact of the late revaluation of the municipality, showing a substantial increase in the capital rateable value. While tihe new valuation lias the effect of increasing the burden now, it is apparent that for a considerable period the Borough has escaped a heavy impost under the’old valuation, and that during a period when the levies were on a higher basis than they are now. The readjustment was inevitpble and had to come- sooner or later, and actually the Borough i., fortunate that it has been brought about later rather than sooner. With regard to the estimates of receipts and expenditure before the Board this week, a definite, study of them is hardly practicable without the benefit, of perusing the balance-sheet for the past year to study the effect ot the previous estimates. In most, classes of revenue and expenditure as estimated, there is not much fluctuation, but there are some new classes of expenditure, for instance, (added. About- £SOO is required under the new headings such as maternity subsidy, uniforms, superannuation etc. These requirements are now statutory, and are an added charge without any compensating direct revenue to meet them. It may be noticed also that the previous year the Board .had a credit balance of £4OO. That has disappeared, and there is now a debit of £l3B. This is a drift of £538 for the past year, and to explain that unfavorable feature some knowledge of the year’s balance sheet is necessary. Regarding the estimates as put forward, it is at least plain that there is no reduction in the local hospital account. Th|e same amount is estimated, namely £7150, or rouglilv £6OO a month to run the in-

stitution. The grounds, however, are provided for specially, and the expenditure in regai'd thereto appears veryhigh. The sum of £450 is again ashed for upkeep, while in addition £304 is scheduled in capital account for cleaning, ploughing etc. This is .a larger sum than required the year before, and seems to he an item on which some reduction could be made. In relation to the total of voluntary contributions received, the quota of expenditure for the doctor’s fund at Kumara is high. This is marked particularly when it is seen that the Kumara Borough contributes a total of only £42 for the year to the Board’s funds. Some more equitable contribution in either levy or subscriptions should be found from Kumara to assist the finances of the Board. The levy on the local bodies and the Government subsidy reach £5,010 this year, as against £142.5 last year, ( ah increase of £585. The expenditure as scheduled shows an increase of £389, the difference being accounted for apparently bv absence of a credit Balance at the bank on this occasion. , As regards voluntary subscriptions, the Board estimates an increase of £SO, but in a district such as tills, enjoying the advantage of such a wellconducted institution as the Westland Hospital, there should lie a more generous contribution than £325 in the way of voluntary donations. The towns mill district should help m,)rc through the channel referred to. and if the” Board were to institute a Hospital Day once a year (as is done in many other places) tlie financial icsn 11 would be well worth while, moio particularly as the amount raised would be subsidised £ for £■ In the management of such an institution as tiic one under consideration, a great deal can be done by watching the icvenue, and in this respect the system of collecting from patients should be made, as effective as possible. It is not sufficient that once a year a budget of summonses should be issued or threatened; some form of systematic collection should ho attempted and the result would lie beneficial to the Boanl. The administration of the institution is running so stnonthily that there is evidence of contentment within, anil we take it that the internal control is satisfactory. The obligation on the Board members is there, however, to see that good value is returned, and t)int. there is no inniiie extravagance. The tleinanets on the ratepayers should lie lightened rather than increased, anil anything the Board can do to reduce expenditure consistent with good work, should be done.