HOSPITAL FINANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1931, Page 2

HOSPITAL FINANCE

A DEFICIENCY ANTICIPATED

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 2u. The financial position of the Hospital Boards of New Zealand has been reviewed by the Executive of the Hospital Bo..id’s Association under the headings of maintenance, indoor relief, outdoor relief, and excess unemployment relief. The expenditure for the first half of the financial year gives an indication that tlm Boards, as a. whole, will have a deficiency of a little over £IOO,OOO, and it i.s quite evident that the sum of £75,000 which tile Goverment is providing, in tne for,m of advances, as extra financial assistance to the Boards will be insufficient to tide them over to the end of tlm financial year. The view of th e Executive in respect to the outdoor relief which the Boards had to provide on account of unemployment, is that it appears to be necessary to increase the revenue of the Unemployment Board so that the Hospital Boards may be relieved of the heavy drain cm their finances, caused bv having to provide outdoor relief to the ulibinpioyed. The cJvir= tailmerit by the Government of. the financial requirements of Hospital Boards has, in the case of some Boards proved to be excessive, as several Boards, after effecting the economies, have been unable to get down to their estimate, there being a deficiency in respect of hospital maintenance of £20,000 for six months.