HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 April 1926, Page 7

HOSPITAL SUBSIDIES.

A PALME IISTON GRIEVANCE. By Telcsrupli—Press Association. PALMERSTON N., April 9. While discussing the hospital maintenance est.mates yesterday, the chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Hoard (Sir J. G. Wilson) made a protest against a compulsory refund to the public account ot £3OL 18s 9d, in accordance with a provision ot the Act lor scaling down all subsidies to maintain a Dominion average ot pound for pound. The position, the chairman explained, was that if at the end ot tlm year the Government found it lmd paid out too much in . .subsidies, nil Hospital Hoards were obliged to refund certain amounts which wove estimated on u capital value basis. 'I be Palmerston North Hoard, as it s<> happened, lmd received only 14s in the £>, so that when the £BO4 was repaid, the actual Government payment w.m.d ho on-y in the £. although the Act stated that the lowest subsidy payable to Ron ids would he Ms in the -C. '1 ho position was most nnsatislactory. The Hoard agreed to protest to the Minster. and also to bring matter before the Hospital.*’ Association. Although among tlm larger hospita the maintenance costs per bed ol tne Palmerston North institution are lower than in anv other, the cost being £.• 3s (as -.-m.-v-d wit’- tlm Dnn.Mi.on aveareg of £11), the Hoard has found it necessary to inrionse t l,r ' K '“ . 1 ->() per cent., clncflv owing to added maintenance ami expenditure on new buildings.