HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1920, Page 2

HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION.

INCREASED LEVY PROPOSED. The eleventh anTiual report of the Twanaki United Friendly Societies' Association, which is.to be considered at the annual meeting this imonth, states, Inter alia: The executlvo regret to state that the financial position of the association has not improved since the last report. The sum of £67!) 10s was due to the various hospital boards at the end of the present year, being an increase In the indebtedness of the association of £250 6s 6d over the previous year The financial position will again require your attention, and the question will bo fully discussed at the annual meeting. The following letter has been received from the New Plymouth Hospital Board, dated June 26. 1920: "I am directed to inform you that in consequence of the increase In the cost of maintaining in-pnticnts at hospital, my hoard have reluctnatly been compelled to raise patients' fees. In future patients will he charged at the rate of 9s 6d per day, and it Is proposed to make a reduction of 3s per day to members of your hospital association. This will therefore mean that the cost to them will be 6s 6d per day instead of 4s 6d as In the past." Owing to the serlojis financial position of your association, and feeling that we could not meet the increase as asked for by the hospital board on the members' present subscriptions, your president and secretary waited on the members of the hospital ' board with a request Hint the old charges should stand until the present indebtedness of the association was liquidated. After considerable discussion with the members of the 1 ispltnl hoard, the matter wns ultimately allowed to stand over for future consideration. To meet the extra increase, your oxecutlvo would recommend that the question of Increasing the levies be considered and adopted. We find on Investigating the claims made on the association that about SO per cent of them are for the members' children. This Is a big Item, and the question of age limit will be discussed. Chronic esses.—We have bad a good deal of trouble over t'neso unfortunate members, and we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without referring to them. While it is most unfortunate for the members concerned, your executive feel that the association was never intended for chronic cases, and you will be asked to deal with this question at the animal meeting. In conclusion your executive would like to take this opportunity of thanking those members and secretaries who contributed their share In the work of the hospital association during last, year, and we trust that in. the ne|: future the flnanctaLpositlon will Improve.