DEARER CHEMICALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1915, Page 8

DEARER CHEMICALS.

nOW THE WAR AFFECTS HOSPITALS.' The great increases which hive taken place in the cost of chemicals used for medicines was shown by Mr. A. B. Sykes at the meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, when, in accordance with notice of motion, Mr. Sykes proposed that a resident dispenser should be appointed at the ■hospital and that supplies of drugs shonld in future he purchased in large quantities wholesale. In moving this Mr. Sykes said he wish. Ed to call attention to the increases which had taken place in the price of drugs since the war broke out. Many lines had increased a hundred per cent., while he also knew of some articles which had increased by tteee hundred, four hundred and five hundred per cent. These increases were enormous, and even higher prices would be ruling for drugs in the future. One article greatly used had risen in price from 6d an ounce (the cost before the war) to 3s an ounce, while articles commonly used for dispensing had risen from 3s per lb to 10s per lb. The chairman (Mr. F. C. J. Bellringer) said he did not think the position could be improved at present, as the Board was now buying fairly well. There was no accommodation for a dispenser in the present hospital, but they would be able to find room for one in the new hospital. He thought the matter might be brought up when the question of appointing the staff of the new hospital was under consideration, and he asked Mr. Sykes to hold the matter over foT the present. 1 After some further discussion, Mr. Sykes agreed to postpone his motion i sine die.