OUR HOSPITAL. —,—#

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3068, 15 March 1892, Page 2

OUR HOSPITAL. —, — #

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Your issue of March 4th contains an account of the annual meeting of fchn Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and I note with surprise and indignation that the estimate of expenditure for next year amounts to £3078 ! !; this is monstroua, and the burden is becoming unbearable. I write the more feelingly because in ray county (Raglan) this rate lost yßar amounted to six shillings in the pound on total amount of rates, and evidently we are to get no relief this year. Being utterly ignorant of the working of the Hospital, the only item I c»re to criticise is " Hospital fees receivable, about £40" ; thn, of course, means that the Board hope to get that amount from patients who have had the benofit of the hospital, but we no intimation of the amount actually received during the year, and that is what we want to know. I do note, however, that the estimate for next year's contribution by, patients is £150, or say a payment of five shillings per week each patient on an average of 12 patients per week; if this has been the contribution in the past year, then I venture to say there is something rotten somewhere, and our representatives ought to find out where it is Now, I have two suggestions to make : (1) That at every annual meeting of the Board an account is renderei and published giving all particulars of the expenditure of the year then pant, with particulars as to the number of patients, amount due, amount collected, averages, weekly number, &c., &c.; and (2) call upon our represouta tive at the Board (if no one else does it) to move some such resolution as this : "That a return lis prepared for the next meeting of the Board showing the name and address of every person received into the Hospital during the past year, days in the Hospital, amount due as par rate agreed upon, and amount paid." Let this list be then subdivided, so that each representative has a list of defaulters in his own district, and let him report to the Board as to the ability or otherwise of each person to pay for benefits received. If he cannot pay, forgive it, in the name of mercy and charity ; if he can pay, in part or entirely, make him. —Yours, &c, Ragianite,