LESS THAN HALF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21113, 5 June 1943, Page 2

LESS THAN HALF

HOSPITAL PAYMENTS

RATEPAYERS’ BENEFITS

ILLUSORY ARRANGEMENT

Although ratepayers who have been burdened with increased hospital rating will welcome any small relief, the Budget announcement that the social security fund payment for the hospital benefit will be raised from 6s to 9s per bed per day is somewhat illusory. Contributing local bodies, and therefore the ratepayers, do not benefit by the full 3s, but only by two-fifths of Ihnt amount, or less than Is 2id per bed per day. The remainder, or slightly more' than Is 94d. goes back to the Government in the form of a reduced contribution for maintenance costs.

The four contributing local bodies for the Cook Hospital are expected to benefit by at least £4500, according to a rough calculation made by Mr. C. A. Harries, managing-secretary of the board. Mr. Harries said that he did not have the full details of the position before him, but he expected that the four contributing bodies would share in a reduction of no less than £4500 according to their proportional method of payment.

Mr. Harries pointed out that the benefit of the increase of 3s per head would be shared by the board and the Government, with the Government getting the lion’s share of threefifths. On paper, it appeared that the board was getting an advantage of more than £II,OOO, but the greater part of that advantage was gained by tlie consolidated fund. Levies on Local Bodies

The Cook Hospital Board's levies on local bodies have been made already for the • current year, and the bodies have been advised of their quotas, but an announcement was made recently that if any relief was given in the 'Budget for the current year adjustments would be made in the levies for this year. The contributing local bodies to the Cook Hospital are the Gisborne Borough Council and the Cook, Waikohu and Uawa county councils.

Levies on local bodies for the current year, compared with those of last year, are given below: 1942-43 1943-44

Totals 28.993 34,703 From the above totals it is evident that of the £4500 reduction anticipated, which is a conservative estimate, the Gisborne Borough Council should save something more than 30 per cent., or less than £ISOO. The Cook County Council, which pays about 37J per cent, of the total levies, should benefit bv a little more than £ISOO. the Waikohu County Council, with about 224 per cent, of the contributions, should effect a saving of less than £IOOO, while the Uawa County Council, responsible for less than 10 per cent, should have a reduction of something up to £450.

£ £ Gisborne Borough . . 8,936 10,820 Cook County .. . . 10,921 13,018 Waikohu County 6,546 7.751 Uawa County .. . . 2,590 3,090