The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “ The West Coast Times.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27th. 1921. THE HOSPITAL LEVY.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1921, Page 2

The Guardian AND EVENING STAR, With which is incorporated “ The West Coast Times.” WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27th. 1921. THE HOSPITAL LEVY.

On Friday evening the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Board is to meet to determine tlic levy on the local bodies of the district for the ensuing year. The Board ol late v ans has been piling up the demands until -the levies now absorb a very substantial proportion of the lates. The levies are adjusted according to rateable capital values, irrespective of population or use of Hie medical and relief associations. As Ini as the County district, is concerned, the residents of the Okurn neighbourhood have to pay the same proportion as the residents of the County who may live within a stone’s throw of an institution. The rateable value basis has therefore inequities, which would he equalised to some, extent wor/“ population and conliqiiity taken into account. This year the proposed levy is little less than last year when an extraordinary demand was made upon the local bodies, ostensibly to elear off a debit balance of some £2390. That balance has disappeared and there is a credit balance now'of £SOO, and perhaps other monies due or in sight in respect to final contributions or subsidy on last year’s receipts. From < these, figures it might he expected that roughly the levy tiiis year could he reduced by £2,500 or so, hat the figures show a reduction only, of some £4OO and the levies proposed are as follows:

Westland County ... 3,113 Hokitika Borough 1,033 Kumara Borough 112 Ross Borough ••• 100 If these amounts are apportioned over the population within local body areas, the following result per head startling in its inequity it must be confessed— is arrived at: Westland County 15s per head of population; Hokitika Borough, 9s 10,Id per head; Kumara, Borough 3s 7d; Ross Borough 4s OJd. When it is farther borne in mind that adjacent to Hokitika, Kumara and Ross Boroughs, there are hospitals and medical officers subsidised, available for the inhabitants, it will be seen that the. residents of the three towns are fortunately placed and leniently treated as regards the cost of upkeep of the ready conveniences referred To. The County is therefore carrying th main burden of the maintenance so far as local body contributions are concerned. This is not a new phase. It has been recurring annually. It has been pointed out over and over again. It is in the hands of the County representatives to curtail the cost, by curbing the disposition to increase the estimates of expenditure year by year. Rut the Countv representatives good naturedly go on agreeing to foot the hill, and the County ratepayers have to meet the engagements thus put upon, them. It is good nature on their part. I and the Borough ratepayers generally should appreciate this generous liberality. Perhaps now that there is a stringency in funds, and there will laless money for road works, the Hospital Board members might be. disposed to view the estimates with more critical eyes. The figures now required are on a high plane, and do not appear to make any allowance for falling prices. They are based in fact on last year’s j figures, and in some respects these ap- ' pear to be. abnormal. There is occns--1 ion for reduction, because there is a ' general call for economy, and this must ; be faced by the public bodies as well as the private individual. Tn view of the position ahead and the heavy toll being exacted, the figures might well be reviewed, and a material reduction made, so that the local bodies will derive sonic relief, from the burden of hospital and charitable administration which in this district is certainly heavy.