THE UNENDING STRAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 67, 24 April 1945, Page 5

THE UNENDING STRAIN

BURDEN OF HOSPITAL RATES

NEW BOROUGH FIGURE £2179

Intimation that the new Hostpi tal rate for 1945 would be increased from £1856 to £2479 (a rise of £623) was made »per letter from the Hospital Board to the Whakatane Borough Council last Monday evening. The letter stated that the allocation was made on the basis of a 95bed hospital, the increased costs and charges arising from the construction of the new and the anticipated rise in wagies to the staff undc'r the new award which was pending. "This represents an increase of one-third on last year's levy," said the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, discussing the notification. "The total increase over the County and Borough is less than a quarter and yet we are called upon to meet an individual increase of one-third. Once again the question of valuation comes into it with the advantage going to the County. Mr Barry gave, the figures of the Borough hospital levy as under:— 1932, £413; 1938, £642; 1941, £938; 1942' £1182; 1944 £18(33; 1945 £2479. j » > Since the advent of Social Security the levy had increased just. 400 per cent, and thefe was every prospect that it would continue to rise. The new levy would mean a hospital rate of 5%d against 4%d last year. Speaking 6f the capital Valuation on which the levy was based, he saifcl the unfair part of it was. that the County authorities took no steps to register new construction works whereas the Borough did annually. Since 1937 the County showed only a 9 per cent, increase. The Borough on the other hand showed 46 per cent. Cr Sullivan said that, the Hospi> tal rate would soon be on a par with the general rate. In other words it would, cost, the Borough as much to help run tile hospital as it did to run and maintain the whole of the Borough services. Cr Spring: The question arises, when is it going to stop. Cr Sullivan: It won't stop at this. It stands to reason that with the new buildings going up staffing costs and new equipment will come into it, particularly so if this proposed new T.B r block goes up. The Mayojr said that the total rates would be 1/8% as> a result of the new but even then it was questionable, with so many new and urgent undertakings in mind to know just how long the general rate could stay where it was.