HOSPITAL BOARD'S NEW LEVY

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1949, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD'S NEW LEVY

' ' '?5': Big Rise In Maintenance Requirements

A levy equivalent to £d in the £ on the rateable capital value will be levied .on local bodies in the Palmerston North Hosintal Board district for the coming year, it was announeed at the annual meeting of the hospital board yesterday. The local bodies aftected are Oroua, Kiwitea, Manawatu, Pohangina, Kairanga, Horowhenua Counties, Feilding, Foxton, Shannon, Levin and Utaki Boroughs, Palmerston North City. The proposed levy is £68,062 2s lld as against' £66,790 2s 2d last year. The increase was stated to be due to the fact that the total rateable capital value is £32,669,830 as .against £32,059,252' last year. Valuations have increased in all counties except Kiwitea, Manawatu and Pohangina Counties, which have registered a decrease. The net total requirements for maintenance this year are £236,116 13s 4d as against £183,571 11s 6d last year and the net capital requirements are £41,098 14s 9d this year as against £36,179 ls last year. The Gov.ernment subsidy last year amounted. to £127,777 11s 7d for maintenance and £25,182 1,8s 9d for capital as against £178,145 2s 4d for maintenance and £31,008 2s lOd for* capital estimated this year.

The individual levies on counties and boroughs are estimated to be as follows :— Kiwitea County (rateable capital value £2,615,651), £5449 5s 5d, last year £5479 12s 6d. Pohangina County (£1,174,063), £2445 19s 4d, last year £2570 8s 6d. Manawatu County (£4,115,006), £8572 LSs 7d, last year £8621 13s 7d. , Oroua County (£3,276,613), £6826 5s 6d, last year £6805 15s 4d. Kairanga County (£3,922,578) £8172 0s 9d, last year £8080 3s 5d. Horowhenua County (£4,530,956), £9439 9s lOd, last year £9351 ls ld. Feilding Borough (£1,498,761), £3122 8s 5d, last year £2987 3s 2d. Palmerston North City (£8,850,734), £18,439 0s 7d, last year £18,089 3d 6d. Foxton Borough (£577,746), £1203 12s 5)d, last year £724 19s. Shannon Borough (£153,835), £320 9s 9d, last year £307 »ls 3d. Levin Borough (£1,549,395), £3227 18s 2d, last year £2975 15s lOd. Otaki Borough (£404,492), £842 13s lOd, last year £797 5s. Total R.C.V. £32,669,830; Total levy £68,062 2s lld; last year £66,790 2s 2d. Limit oh Economy. ' ' A large quantity of the goods which we purchase is sold at fixed^ or controlled prices," said the managing secretary (Mr. -A. J. Phillipps)^ wrhcn presenting the 1949-50 estimates. "Thus the economy that can be practised in hospital management at^ the present time, is to some extent, limited, and even . where we secure quotations from representatives of overseas firms for goods it is often found that there is not the keen competition for hospital business which we experienced some years ago. The cumulative eifect is that real economy can. .be practiaed today ohly by the effective use and .control qf the services of staflbund by the economical and efficient us.6 of materials and equipment. Greater responsibilitj consequently falls on departmental heads and sectional eontrolling bfficers to ensure that proper economies .are effected and that the wofk Of eacl section is organised to give the mos1 efficient results. Maintenance Receipts. - Patients' Fees: Receipts £92,588 10i 9d, proposed estimkte £91,830.

Awapuni Hospital Fees: Eeceipls £9709 9d; proposed estimate £9759. During the past year there has been an average of 45 patients in the hospital wards at Awapuni and the number of inmates has averag'ed 28. Laboratory Fees and Saies of Sera: Receipts £9009 12s 4d; proposed estimate £8600. The actual receipts fro.n laboratory fees for the past year £9009 12's 4d, shows an increase over the preceding year when the fees were £7493 4s 8d. ' ■ Awapuni Farm Saies: Receipts £2( 9 4s 3d; proposed estimate £300. ' ' . Recoveries from Loan Account for Architects ' Fees: Receipts nil; proposed estimate £40001 As'loan moneys bo'coine available this year fees for Woik done in connection with laboratory' and tuberculosis block and Feilding Matcrnity- Home will be recouped to' the general account. The cost of architectural services on the theatre block wi 11 ai-so be repaid to' the maintenance account during the year from capital funds. Recovery from Government on Account of District Nursing: Receipts £6805 2s; proposed estimate £7000. Recovery from Government on Account of Caccia Birch Convalescent Home: Receipts £4213 11s 3d; proposed estimate £4500. "'We are .contimiing to maintain the Caccia Birch Convalescent Home on behalf of the Government .and all expenses are recovered. The recoveries fhr the previous year amounted to £39&0 4s 4d and the increase anticipated is neeessarv in view of the increased .salary and wage rates," said Mr.-, Phillipps: Miscellaneous t Receipts: Receipts I £736 1.1s 9d; proppaed estimate £^700. The ,main poytion of the. miscellapeous receipts consists of rents. • , Maintenance Payments, ; . Reppyment of Advance > on- . Acppunt i ofSubsidy:. Proposed estimate. £37,000. r 'fBefo.re the end- of the flnan,cial year 1. 1948/49 we receiyed fr.om the Governi ment an advanee^on ae,count of subsidy i amounting to £37,000 {and this amount i will be deducted by the depai^ipqnt t from subsidy due during 1949/50. The - department has advised the board that each month as neeessary we shoulci 3 apply for an advance on ' account. oi subsidy. to avoid bank oyerdVaft in oui

general account in the future,C said l Mr. Phillipps. , " . " ,, .. .. . Hospital and Matefnity Home Maintenance: Payments £234,367 ,7s 5d; proposed estimate "£240, UUU. .';'The de: tails of the proposed estimate are as foliows: . Provisions, £21,0UU; surgery and dispensary, £31,000; domestie, £45,500; saiaries and wages, £128, 7UU; estabiishment, £10,0u0; groundsy £3000; Uuscellaneous, £800. . _ t Saiaries ' and Wages: Payments £124,037 12s lud; proposed estimate £128,700. Mr. Phillipps submiteed figures 're- - lating to the wages bill which .showed . i' that while the saiaries and wages to J; 270 employees in 1937-38 was £34,407, the present day cost, with further increases exp.ected, was £153,876 for 552 / employees. / Miscellaneous:. Tlie chief expendi- ^ turC'under this heading is in connectipn;>. ). with empoyers' liabiiity' and piibiic risk insurance preniiums. An estimate f of £800 will be neeessary this year as •; against the expenditure of £723 11s 6d in 194S/49 and £664 10s 9d in the pre-. . ceding year. | Otaki ' Maternily Home Maintenance: f Payments £7645 18s lld; proposed e'sti- •; mate £7500. . •' Foxton Maternity Home Maintenance: Payments £3144 0s 3d; proposed ;• estimate £3100. Feilding Maternity Home Mainten- / ance: Payments £4851 6s 3d; proposed estimate £4900. ■ ' ' ' Rostrata Maternity Home Maintenance: Payments £505 2s 7d; proposed estimate £900Q, Awapuni Hospital Maintenance: Payments £19,938 14s 6d; proposed estimate £20,600. * Caccia Birch Convalescent Home Maintenance: Payments £4205 Sh 8d; proposed estimate £4500. The whole of , the expenditure in connection with this Tnstitution is recoverable froin . the Government. • ' - * ' ., ' Social Welfare: Payments £739 : Cs : 6d; proposed estimate .£600. * District Nursing: Payments £7176 4'S 3d; proposed- estimate £7200. Administration : Payments £6875 12s,' 4d'; proposed estimate £7200. .> Maintenance of Patients in ' Othor Tnstitutions: Payments £4404 16s 6d; proposed estimate £4400. Interest: Payments £10,0S8 5s lld; proposed estimate £11,400. Awapuni Farm Maintenance: Payments £508-6 15s lld; proposed estim°ate £4200. Palmerston North Ambulance Service: Payments £4717 10s 2d; proposed estimate £5000. Capital Receipts. At March 31, 1949, there was an over-" draft in capital account amounting lo £1943 7s 4d. At the same time there were . arrears of Government subsidy due. "We do not now receive capital subsidy until we liave either spcnt the equivalent amount or made commitments which are to-fall due immediately," said Mr. Phillipps. ' CasW in hand: Receipts £14,086 10s 4-;l, proposed- estimate" niL Bal'e of emergehcy plant and equi:> ,ment: Rec.eipts £33 -11s" ' 8dy proposed • estimate £380. ' •;- • ! ' _ ■ Recoveries .from" loans "to be—t'aksed: Receipts nil. estimate £2027 19s lOd. * -Arrears of Government subsidy: Receipts £9000. estimate £38,072 8s lld. Capital Payments. Si'nking f'nnd instalments:- Payments ' £24,103' 7s 2d, estitnatb "£l4,363"5sf>9(1. , Commitments. from previous year: Estimate £41,046 10s 5d. j Proposed new capital items: The new . capital proposals now recommended in-', cludortwo'rmiajor. items.- (l'l'-'Pteposed . alterations to boilerhouse and installa-! tion of a e ewiEssi®^a^||^^-8ten%ft t the ; Awapuni Hospifa^^^^C^^oposed ' "" additiops*. to tutoriaL.^^^^||4^1mor"' '• st)on IjOTtli -Hospital. These: 'llMForks: -vVliich/'Tt is'proposed should be fifianced' from 'ordinary fun'ds and not from loan' moneys. Major capit^ works to be commenced this year and to be hnanced from loan moneys' are: (1) Feilding maternity home, (2) Levift maternity lionre, (3) laboratory accommodation. Fquipment for rew operation theatre £2700. " Additional amount required for buildings and capital expenditure, Awa- ' puhi farm, apart from provisions on previous year 's estimates, £1000. Central heating system, Awapuni Hospital, including alterations to boilerhouse, £9000. Additions to tutorial block, r- Palmerston North Hospital, £2300. It is estimated that capital receipts will total £S2,469 3s 6d "in the coming year." The main headings under wlii'-li the.se. receipts will eome are: Sale oi

emergency plant and equipment £3S0, recoveries from loans to be raised £2027 19s lOd, Government payments -£460, ; sale of land £380, miscellaneous £50, arrears of Government subsidy £38,072 ' 8s lld, levy on local authorities £10,090

11s lld, Government subsidy £31,008 2s j lOd. Payments are classified as foliow: Over draft £1943 /s 4d, sinking fund instalments £14,363 5s 9d, commitments i from previous year £41,046 10s 5d, proposed capital items 1949-50 £25,116.