THE HOSPITAL LEVY.

Shannon News, 16 May 1922, Page 3

THE HOSPITAL LEVY.

I-lOROWHENUA’S HEAVY CONTRIBUTION. At the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, a letter Was, read from the Palmerston Hospital Board stating that it- had been resolved that a levy of 11/1 1-16 in the j £IOOO be made on the capital value of the contributing authorities in Tie j Board’s district for the purpose of j providing the sum of £14,855 13/ lor j the maintenance of the Hospital and ( the Awapuni Old People’s Home, and i for charitable aid expenditure for the year ending March 31, 1923; also that a further levy of 4M in the £looo' be made for the purpose of providing £530 9/4 to be expended on sinking fund on loan, the balance of architects’ fees, a new set of batteries anil Ideal boilers. The levies are to be paid in two equal instalments on May 1, 1922, and November 1, 1922, and the levy on hospital expenditure on May 1, 1922. The amount for which the Council was liable for maintenance and charitable aid expenditure was £2882 14/, and the Council’s liability for capital expenditure £lO2 18/4. The chairaian (Cr.' Monk) drew attention to the large amount the county had to pay this year as compared with last. This was brought about as a result of" the rise in the county valuation irom three and ahalf to five millions—a rise of well over a million. Horowhenua was Tie largest contributing body in the <listrict. The Council was not there, however, to discuss whether the levy was fair or otherwise. He would say that this would be the last year that the county would have to contribute the £SOO which the Council Had been paying each year on being permitted to join the Palmerston Hospital district. The chairman said it was hoped there would he a reduction m the levy next year. He thought that could be done. Cr. Harkness asked how the levy was computed. The chairman said the levy was fixed on the valuation and population. “We are taxed because we are a wealthy district—on paper,” added the chairman.

The Board’s letter was received, payment of the levy to be made in due course