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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2438, 25 February 1888, Page 2

The value of tlie Waikato District Hospi tal to the resident and floating population of the wide extent of country coinprised within the boundaries of the hospital district cannot be more distinctly demonstrated than by tiie large proportion of accident cases which have been treated at the institution since its inception in May last. From the official report of the Inspector for last year we find that out of a total of 827 patients admitted to the Auckland Hospital, 18 were accident cases ; of SO to the Ashburton Hospital, six were accidents ; out of 122 at Blenheim six were accidents ; there wat one out of I'2B at Gisbornei; seven out of ITS at Greymouth ; one out of 27 at Oreytown ; three out of 104 at Nelson ; one out of 30 at Maaterton ; ten out of lay at New Plymouth, ami five out of 141 at Wanganui. Most of the patients at those institutions were of a chronic nature or sufferers from enterio fevers, evils of intemperance, and pauperism. During the ten mpnths the VYaiktvto Hospital has

been in existence sixty-three cases have been admitted of which thirty or nearly fifty per cent, were accidents, many of them of serious and complicated natures. In addition to these many others who have applied for admission have been refused, owing to the want of accommodation and the over-crowded state of the wards, from time to time. We are here referring entirely to hospital business, leaving out of consideration what comes under the head of charitable aid aud out door relief, of which the Board has already its fair share of responsibility. So very large a per centage of severe accident cases has been a serious matter to the finances of so young an institution, but as affording a basis upon which to calculate its requirements for current maintenance, it places the Waikato Hospital at an advantage when comparisons are drawn between it and other similar institutions, that have been established for a great number of years. To compute the cost of these institutions by the number of beds they contain is fallacious and misrepresents the case; the correct and honest way to arrive at the actual expense, per capita, is to divide the annual cost by the number of patients that have been under treatment during the year. In this way it will be seen at once that the management of the Waikato Hospital compares most favourably with the others, the average cost per head at which ranges from £1S 10s at Nelson to £3 10s at Blenheim ; New Plymouth and Wangatnii are each £11 los, and £11 ss; and Waikato is £11 16s per head. The Waikato Hospital Iras never been without a full complement of indoor patients ; whereas, we observe from Dr. McGregor's report, there were many at the time of his visits that had only a moiety of their beds occupied, and one, the Grey town Hospital, was actually empty. Had the Waikato remained in the Auckland Hospital aud Charitable Aiil District, the contributions levied by the Central Board on the local contributing public bodies would have reached so large a Bum as about £0000 or £7000. They are required to pay not half that sum to the admirable institution they possess in their own district, and which is within easy access of every part of the country it is intended to serve.

The ratepayers must not be misled by statements that the subsidies have been reduced, or will cease altogether next year. Such is not the fact The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act of ISBS, and the Amendment Act of ISSG stipulate that the annual subsidies to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund shall be, pro rata, for live years from the Ist October, ISSfi These payments, therefore, are specially fixed by the legislature, and will not be altered until October, 1891, unless, Parliament in its wisdom, sees fit to amend the existing statute before the expiration of that period, which is very improbable.