HOSPITAL-LEVIES BURDEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 81, 22 April 1937, Page 9

HOSPITAL-LEVIES BURDEN

TeleerrktiTi — Own florr*nn«ni?«Tit >

j Tabour Legislatlori Largely Responsible" MANAWATU COMPLAINT

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PALMERSTON N. This Pay. In referring to the Palmerston .In o.. . .. Kospital - Board levies at yesterday's meeting of the Kiwitea County Council, the county elerk (Mr. W. L. Hesseltine) said that - the coUncil would be able to meet the increased charge on the county Without incrCasing the -fate., ' The position was " that the cdti^cil -ha"d a cr edit . balance of over £3()d/;in the hospital - levy account and this would bd sufficient to meet the additional charge levied on tho county by the board without reqairing the present hospital rate to be disturbed. "Do you ever do any battling down there to get these estimates cut backt" asked Cr. J. H. Williamson of the chairman (Cr. L. T. McLean) when the Palmerston; North Hospital levy question was before the cpunciL , The ehairman said that he did, ..but one could. not battle against the legislation of the Labour Government which was largely reSponsible -for the Increased levy. Cr. W. G. Clapham said he was becoming fed np .with the position and in his opinion the cost of hospital main- - tenance shbuld be met- out of the con- ■ solidated' fund. Failing that it would be better to fix the levy on a population basis. . . "We would "not.come out'too well on the population* basis,"" said the chaifman. ','1 think we. would," replied Cr. Clapham, who, went on to.say that the eounty. was .at, present paying at the rate of .31s .a, head. ."We would not .have to pay anything like that if the ievy was - eollected on a- population basis," he said. ■ ,Cr. W. Hair voiced his protest against the growing eost of hospital mainten. ance and - administration. and ; opined that the county could not continue to carry the burden. ".If .prices fell jfcomorrow, we would not be able ' to "meet the chargesy" he said. The council did not take any action and the discussion dropped.