BIG HOSPITAL ECONOMIES.

Shannon News, 8 May 1923, Page 2

BIG HOSPITAL ECONOMIES.

PALMERSTON MAINTENANCE REDUCED BY £3OOO. SOME LOCAL BODY LEVIES LESS

A -statement sent out by the Palmerston Hospital Board lo contributing local bodies shows that substantial economies have been effected in the administration during the year as a result of which the maintenance expenditure was reduced by £3070 as compared with the previous year. The coal bill was lower by £B7O. Provisions cost £350 less, and drugs £SOO less. The estimates provided lor expenditure of £24,653, and the actual amount spent was £21,007. The Horowhenua County is still the biggest contributing body. - The Horo.whenua County is called on this year to pay £2401 maintenance levy as against £2882 last year, and £lO5 10s 5d capital levy as against £lO2 18 S 4d last year. Levin Borough Council pays £250 as against £l7O last, year in maintenance, and £lO 10s as against £6 7s last year in capital payment. It will he noted that whereas the County levy has been reduced, Levin Borough has been increased.’ This is accounted for by the fact that the Borough has been revalued since last year, and is now paying on a valuation of £545,274, as against £323,123. The County, on the other hand, was re-valued before last year’s levy was struck and paid last year on the" new valuation. Palmerston Borough is in the same position as Levin and its ]<?'">’ ” oes up from £1703 to £2468. Otaki Borough also pays on a higher valuation, £303,782 instead ol £232,213, the result being an increase in maintenance l'rom £l2B to £144 and in capital levy from £4 11s ltd io £6 2s 6d. Shannon enjovs a reduction liom £97 13s 6d to £B3 14s Od in maintenance, its valuation being £175,765. This statement was presented to Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council. The chairman, Cr. Monk, who represents the combined Boroughs on the Board, recalled the movement, initiated by the late Messrs Verm and Gardener for the severance of the Horowhenua County from the Wellington Hospital Board and joining Palmerston. He came into the agitation later and was on the Council when it was successful. If the County had remained under Wellington it would now be paying 20/8 per £IOOO of capital value, or £5685 per year, instead of 9/6 3-10 per £IOOO or £2500 as it was paying to Palmerston to-day. “We have been sumed up as an inefficient crowd ,bv certain people,” said the chairman, “hut I would like to point out that we have at least done some good in the past. Previously, County patients were being treated in Palmerston, and the County was paying a. large sum to Wellington. Now we are having the patients 1 treated m Palmerston for far less than half what we would be paying Wellington.” The chairman said the Board had a really live secretary in Mr Fraser, another Otago man, who seemed to he coming to this district. He had made a very good start. Cr. Broadbelt, representing the County on the Hospital Board, said tlie figures presented were plain enough and he felt convinced that, under the mlanaging* secretary they were going to have very much hett u* management «lL lire hospital ilian in the past. The next, balance would show the position to he even better. He had always felt, that, severance from Wellington was the light coursv Cr. Harkhess congratulated th'-' chairman on the result of the severance, stating that a great deal of the credit for that was due to Mr Monk.