HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 72, 14 May 1943, Page 5

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

THE BOROUGH VIEWPOINT

LEVY FOR 194 i?

Formal notification that the Hospital levy for the Borough of Whakatane for the current year would be £2083 against £1980 last year on a 70-bedi basis,, gave the Borough Council an opportunity last Monday to consider the present controversy which has led to the launching of a County-wide petition negativing the £45,000 loan proposal.

"Ft seems*- that the council has been strongly criticised on the. question of its attitude towards the loan," said Cr Sullivan, "but. I consider that we have discussed the matter so much that we felt there was nothing fresh we could do about it. Ft .seemed obvious that the Government was on the eve of doing something towards, altering the incidence of hospital taxation." He considered that (some relief in this t direction was inevitable and suggested that it would, be fair to ask the Government to take over the interest and sinking fund on all past, present and future capital expenditure in connection with hospitals.

The Mayor agreed pointing out that though a great deal of criticism had been levelled at the Hospital Board, it had all been destructive, without proffering anything constructive in lieu of the present proposals. The Council decided to adopt Cr Sullivan's suggestion_ which was put in the form of a motion to be fbrwarded to the Minister in charge and also to the Municipal Association.