HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1096, 13 May 1913, Page 3

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE.

At last night’s Council meeting a letter was read irom the secretary of the Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, stating that at the last meeting of the Board it was decided to communicate with all local bodies interested asking if they would be agreeable to the Board raising a loan tor building purposes, the interest on such loan to be allocated to the contributing bodies pro rata. The Board asked for an expression of Opinion from the Foxtion Council. The Mayor said that whilst they all recognised that hospital aud charitable aid boards were doing a very necessary and good work, they must not lose sight of the tact that the levies which the local bodies in the district were asked to contribute each year were increasing at a great rate and curtailment would have to be made. Since he had been a member of the Council the levies had steadily increased. In other districts it was the same, and local bodies were protesting against the continual increase. They all knew that hospital boards had very large powers, and although the contributing bodies could not prevent the. boards from obtaining loans, he thought they should give some indication that they do not approve of the increased cost. He moved that this Council is not willing, that the Palmerston Hospital and Charitable Aid Board should raise a loan for the purpose- asked: for, as they consider that the time has arrived when expenditure should be curtailed in every way possible, as the demand, for hospital contributions from local bodies is increasing at an alarming rate. The motion was seconded by Cr Coley, and carried.