HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

Shannon News, 8 May 1928, Page 4

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

DIRECTOR-GENEEAL OF HEALTH IS EMPHATIC.

„_,. . AUCKLAND, May 3. l.hc time has come when we have got to call a halt in hospital expenditure," said Dr. T. H. A. Valintine. Director-General of Health, in an ad-' dross to members of the Auckland Hospital Board to-day. . Dr. Valintine said he .had visited many parts-of ,Now Zealand lately and he had become- exceedingly unpopular because of his appeals for economy. However he had been fairly successful in curtailing expenditure. ■Ho had visited several hospitals and tney all required more money.' The question was could they afford to go on as they were doing? Dr. Valintine referred to the great expenditure incurred in connection with the upkeep 0 f sanatoria especially m the South Island. The number of sanatoria in the South Island was double that in the-North Island although the population was much smolder.

_With the exception of South Africa, New Zealand had the lowest death-rate from consumption of. any country, yet in proportion to population New Zealand had the largest number of beds. He had been very concerned abput this and the matter was now being inquired into by medical men.