HOSPITAL BOARD’S LEVY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4849, 6 July 1925, Page 1

HOSPITAL BOARD’S LEVY

A BIG INCREASE. THAMES COUNTY OBJECTS. The Thames Hospital Board forwarded to the Thames County Council a statement of the estimated revenue and expenditure for the financial year 1925, and the matter was discussed by the council on Thursday last. The contribution required from tne Thames County was £925 18s, payable by equal quarterly instalments, and interest at the rate of 7 per cent, would be charged after 14 days from the date due in accordance with the Act. The estimated expenditure was as follows :— Thames Hospital and maternity annexe, £ll,OOO ; district homes, £2OOO ; charitable aid, destitute children, £175 ; charitable aid, outdoor relief, £lOOO ; patients other hospitals, £4OO ; public health, district nurse £lOO native, nurse £100; administration, £750 ; interest on loan, £3OB ; repayment capital money advanced, £3346 17s 2d; subsidy to be refunded to public account, £lOO 6s '2d; miscellaneous, £B4 Is 9d; total, £19,364 5s Id. Capital expenditure was estimated to be £469 6s Bd, for principal repayment on loan for the Paeroa maternity hospital and £l5OO first, instalment. The estimated receipts were Bank balance, £834 4s 2d; balance levy and subsidy, £2807 Is; hospital recoveries, £3OOO ; hornets recoveries, £9OO ; rent, £26 ; miscellaneous, £lOO ; total, £7667 5s 2d. The estimated expenditure over revenue was £13,666 6s 7d, which amount was required, in accordance with the Act, to be contributed by the local authorities within the board’s jurisdiction and the Government. The amount apportioned to the local authorities was £6260 ,17s Id, and the subsidy receivable from the Consolidated Fund was £7405 9s 6d. An assessment of %d in the £ on the valuation of the rateable property would produce the amount to be contributed by the local authorities. The amounts payable were as follows • Thames Borough, valuation £94',725, levy £1241 15s 2d ; Paeroa Borougn, valuation £369,110, levy £576 14s 8d ; Ohinemuri County, valuation £669,244, levy £1045 13s lid ; Thames County, valuation £59?,577, levy £925 18s; Hauraki Plains County, valuation £1,581,291, levy £2470 ,15s 4d. The clerk pointed out that there was nearly £4OO of an advance -on last year’s levy. The chairman said that, he did not like criticising other local bodies, but it was significant that about one quarter of the total rates collected by the county went, directly to the Hospital Board. The county wais only the collector. Ratepayers overlooked this fact when criticising the county for the increase in rates. It was wrong for the Hospital Board to raise the cost of new buildings by levies over two or three years. If other local bodies adopted the same principle the ratepayers could not stand the burden. The rate of %d would really mean a t rate of %d, on account of the amount of native and other non-rate-producing land included in the valuation of the whole county. Then, the rate was not equitable, as it was on the land. "In his opinion it should be a peiwenal tax. He thought the time had come when hospital boards should collect their own rates, as the clerical expenses in connection with the collection had to be borne by the county fund. The levy was payable quarterly to the board, but it was well known when ratepayers met their obligations. If the levy was overdue interest at the rate of 7 pel cent, would be charged the local body, and this had to be paid out of the county fund. Or. Cribb spoke about the amount of hospital fees unpaid by patients. He was of opinion that the Hospital Board should at least publish a liist of those who were able to pay fees but did not do so. Cr. Cox urged that a protest be entered. Other councillors supported, and it was moved by Cr. McCormick, and seconded in numerous places, that an emphatic protest be enetred through the councils’ representative against capital exepditure being riased by Way of levy, and tjie general increase in the amount of the maintenance rate, which was altogether out of proportion to the benefit received. The county ran a business involving a greater amount of maney and expediture over a district comprising 400 square miles. It was also decided on Cr. Cribb’s motion to ask the hospital board for a list of defaulters.