The Hospitals and Charitable Aid Levies.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1921, Page 1

The Hospitals and Charitable Aid Levies.

COUNTY COUNCIL ASKS FOR A REDUCTION. With respect to the annual meeting of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid. Board to-morrow night to consider the annual levy for the year on the local bodies of the district, the following letter from the Westland County Council, written by direction of the County Chairman, has been forwarded to the Board for consideration at the meeting in question:— Sir. —I have to acknowledge the receipt of your notification of Estimates for the year, together with statement of receipts and expenditure, and beg to thank you for the information supplied. In regard to the proposed levy it is suggested same should be reviewed, as the amount required from this Council will place a heavy burdon on the County ratepayers, and one which can bo met only by continuing the increased taxation. Last year the Board sought to wipe out its debit balance of £1596, and with other extraordinary expenditure brought tho levy for the year up to £3410. To meet this abnormal demand 50 per cent increase had t-o be made in the County rating levy. Thus of £5747 actually collected m rate's, the Council paid vour Board £3316. As rates aro primarily earmarked for road works, the burden of the high levy becomes extremely heavy, and it was hoped with flio liquidation of the debit balance, material relief would be afforded this year, enabling the Council to return to a- rate of six farthings, instead of nine as last year. The levy proposed this year, however, is £3113 so that the relief proposed is not material. It is proposed to ask tho Board to review the position in regard to the following matters: — First. In the statement of expenditure last year there is an item of £1786 for the steam laundry plant at Westland Hospital, while in the receipts there is a transfer of £750 from the building fund for steam laundry. Thus a "balance of £1036 went to debit on this account. Tt is submitted that the whole of this outlay should be a debit against the building fund for which the Board has been collecting funds for years past, and if that transfer were made the Board’s ordinary account would he so much more in credit. Second.—Capital expenditure of £I,SOO is proposed this year on account of the Westland Hospital, namely £IO9O additional for laundry ; £375 for electric light and £425 for drainage scheme. Tt is submitted that the whole of this amount should be a charge against the Building fund, a very" large amount of which has been raised already from County residents. Third. —An item of £I2OO is proposed under capital expenditure for a South Westland Nursing Home. It is suggested owing to the high cost of material and labor that this expenditure should be deferred for a year or two until prices become more reasonable. This will not be a hardship, as satisfactory temporary quarters have been equipped meantime. Fourth. —Regarding general expenditure it is suggested the outlay on the hospitals should he reviewed carefully with a view to same being economised consistent with efficiency. A levy of £O,IOO to manage Westland Hospital seems extraordinarily high. Last year over £3,000 was spent at this institution on provisions and supplies. ’1 In is deemed capable of reductions Fifth.-- Economies should be rigidly effected where possible. Some of the items in the statement of expenditure, notably refurnishing at Otira, £323, appear to be altogether excessive. The income for the Board last year was £17,668 and £17,400 was spent in conducting tho Board’s work. An average monthly expenditure of £1,450 seems to be very high, and with reasonable economics and a careful control of the accounts, considerable saving should he possible. There is a financial stringency pervading the country now, and it- will he felt in all quarters more or less. The ratepayers will he less able to contribute increased rates, and there will be a possible difficulty m maintaining regular payments of the levy if the amount is unduly high, as it undoubtedly is at present. 1 am therefore directed by the Chairman to ask the Board to carefully review the levy in the light of the foregoing, and by drawing on tho building fund as suggested, and deferring all expenditure where possible, to lighten the burden on the (ratepayers to the fullest extent at this juncture.