(1) The marked increase in the population of the Northern district and the rapid development off Shanghai. The foreign population has more than doubled itself within the last 12 years. Although. the future is obscure, the probabilities are, that within the next few years, enormous developments will take place, the Victor Nursing Home, did not attempt to give a comprehensive re nghai, but confined myself to the statement that, in ordinary course of events, had the Councit's original plan of rebuilding the Victoria Nursing Home on a larger scale in the Western District been carried out, a8 soon as that new Hospital was complete and in working order, the present Victoria Nursing Home would automatically have Wen closed. In answer to the jon whether there would be hospital accommodation for the needs of the community if the Victoria Nursing Home were closed, I replied that apparently there would be at the present time, in mind that the Country Hospital was only about a quarter full, the Victoria Nursing Home about half full and the General Hospital rather more than half full, Naturally the Economy Committes wished to obtain as much support as possible for the fulfilment of its function and 1 attempted without prejudice to furnish them with the facts they asked for, and an opinion based on those facts. Idid not suppose for one moment that the Council would act immediately on the recommendations of the Econ-amy Committee without the fullest consideration, and without consulting the Heads of Departments, who are their permanent officials and their expert advisers, and the special Committees connected with each Department. Had 1 done so T should have asked that I be given notice of the subject in order to Prepare a comprehensive report embodying all the facts and factors involved.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.