CHARITABLE AID LEVY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1921, Page 4

CHARITABLE AID LEVY

discussed by county council

At the meeting of the Westland County Council yesterday afternoon, the Westland Hospital Board notified the amount of estimates approved for the year and the levies. struck on the contributing bodies. —ltefceived.

The Treasurer’s supplementary report on the same subject (published yesterday) was also received. Considerable discussion then followed oh .the subject. . ■ The Chairman said the first thing lie wanted the Council to do was to approve of the letter sent by lhs direction to the Charitablo Aid Board, to which some exception had been taken. Mr Jeffries moved that the Council approve of the letter. Personally he would have liked to have discussed the question at the Council table. The Chairman stated that the letter from the Charitable Aid Board was written on the 15th., and received by the Council on the same day, while a reply had to be sent in by the 19th. Each member of the Council had received a copy of the letter that vas sent.

Mr Jeffries continuing said there was not a doubt in his mind of the necessity of the pruning knife being vigorously used in the affairs of the Board He was in complete accord with the sentiments of the Council’s letter and endorsed the contents as drafted by the Chairman and the Treasurer and sent to the Board. The increased levy called for a spirited protest against it by the Council. He emphatically protested against the Council agreeing to the demand. He emphasised the absurdity of placing persons in positions to carry on public affaire who had not sufficient abiltv to carry on their own businesses successfully. Mr Ritchie said he regretted that Mr Jeffries was not a member of the Board. He had asked him t-o take his (Mr Ritchie’s) place, but lie had declined. Mr Jeffries said lie Had served on the Board and during that time they in not raised the levy to such am unheard of extent as the present Board had. He bad had the courage to voice his opinions when on the Board and to vote against the continual increasing of the cost of the upkeep of the institutions. Mr Ward said as a member. of t " e Council, hq was strongly of opinion, the lew should be still further reduced. Ho thought that permanent improvements should not he taken out of one year a revenue. He instanced the large proposed outlnv for drainage works. Then as regards the South Westland hospital he did not think that there was any necessitv for this work to he carried out at present. He felt sure the levy could he still reduced by a very substantial sum Another injustice was m askin* the Council to pay in 9 instalments instead of 12. It was simply penalising the Council who had at all times paid liji their levies promptly. Mr Ritchie said as a member of the Board, lie was in favour of adopting the estimates. He did not think any further reduction could be made and then carry on efficiently. He knew many farmhouses that had better sewage ani drainage than the hospital. The hospital at Wailio would only cost the Board £350. It. would he breaking faith with the South Westland people to turn down the proposal now. Mr Bruce had a- great grip of the Board’s finances and lie gave him every credit for the able manner in which ho arranged the finances. The Chairman asked Mr Ritchie if it was good finance to buy n laundry at Greymouth some months ago for £ISOO and pay for it, and then to have to pay 30/- per week for storage of it at Greymouth because they had no place to eroct it. Mr Ritchie said lie regretted be could not give a reply as to the actual position, but a new laundry was urgently

required. . . The Chairman asked if that was good finance, especially as there was no mention of this largo expenditure in last year’s estimates. How were they to know that they would not find out they required another washing machine for another institution this year. Mr Morel said ho had done his best to have the levy reduced. He had been challenged by the Chairman of the Board at the outset as to the letter of tho Council. Ho had done his host in tho interevsts of the Council but had not been able to get his own motion carried and therfore had supported the reduced amount, in an endeavour to do his best. The letter sent by the Council Had his hearty support and approval. Mr Chinn said as a member of the Board he must acknowledge he was now to the business. There were members of the Board who by experience should be able to conduct the affairs of the Board in a capable manner, owing to their long connection with hospital matters. He criticised adversely the manner in which the Board arranged its finance. In permanent works posterity should be let in for a Bhare of the expenditure. It would be going back on the promises of the Board to hold over the erection of the Wniho Hospital. He was in favour of it being carried on, though he thought it could

be postponed . for a year or so. The South Westland people were finding £4OO in subscriptions. He considered the staffing at the hospital was excessive, and that the number of the out- j side employees could be curtailed. He proposed to move to set up a committee of the Board to enquire into the administration of the Board, and would suggest that one or two members of the County Council sboukl be included. He quite endorsed the action of the Chairman and Clerk in sending the letter to the Board.

Mr Ritchie said he approved of the action of the Chairman and Clerk on sending the letter to the Board.

Air Wells, in supporting the action in sending the Council’s letter expressed his surprise at a man like Air Davidson questioning the Council’s letter. The attitude taken up thereon had been a most peculiar one on Air Davidson’s part.

The motion approving of the letter sent to the Board was then agreed to The Chairman then moved : —That the levy be not accepted and the Board be asked to make a substantial reduction by holding over the capital expenditure or otherwise caiTylng same out of accrued Building funds, or in the alternative, to hold a conference with the Council on the 25th. inst. to discuss ways and means as to a substantial reduction in the levy for the year; and that in any case the Board be asked not to depart from the usual method of payment, namely, in twelve monthly instalments. Seconded by Air Aforel.

Mr Duff supported. He thought that the Board were quite justified in attending to their drainage system, but that was part of their building scheme and should come out**of their building fund.

Air W'ells supported the motion which was agreed to.

The Chairman said it was gratifying to find that Messrs Alorel and Ritchie had both voted against the reduction of the instalment payments from 12 to 9. It was peculiar that the enquiry of Mr Blank had- showed that the County Council was the only contributing body that had paid the levy last year in regular monthly instalments. Where would the 'Board’s finance have been if the County had held up its payments to save paying interest on overdraft as the other Itodies had done. The discussion then ended.