HOSPITAL BOARD LEVY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 138, 11 May 1940, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD LEVY.

HOROWHENUA COUNCIL’S VIEWS SATISFACTION AT REDUCTION. At to-day’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council general satisfaction was expressed at the reduction of the -Palmerston . North Hospital Board’s levy, when a communication was • being read from the managingsecretary (Mr A. J. Phillipps). Tne letter stated that this year the levy on the council would be £6534 2s, as against £7795-6s lid in 1939-40. ■ • The chairman (Cr G. A. Monk) said that this year the county had a reduction of approximately £1261. “On the other hand,” he , added, “the Manawatu County has had ah increase of about £1000.” Cr Best: Has the Social Security Department’s " fees made up for the deficiency in the amount of uncollected hospital fees? Cr Monk: The fees from the department have counter-balanced tlie loss caused through some people not paying their fees; also a large amount in overdue fees was collected this year.

Cr Giniblett said that the hospital rate'had not been reduced before, and he thought the time was not opportune to reduce it now. “I had not been on this council long beforo a conference was held to try to have the rate reduced,” said Cr Gimblett, “and I think Crs Jensen and Best have done yeoman service in trying to have this brought about. I cannot see it being reduced very much, as hospital equipment is too expensive.” “As a member of the board,” said the chairman, “I can tell the members of this council that the powers of the board are very much limited.” He went on to say that he would be very pleased to discuss hospital board matters with any meeting of farmers or ratepayers. He also commented on the excellent work done by the honorary medical practitioners; they are, under the Social Security Act, now parttime officers;'. “The board has done all in its power to have the expenditure lowered,” said Cr Jensen. “Ail levies have been kept as low as possible, but improvements have to be carried out at the Hospital. The improvements carried out during the past two years are a credit to the management.”