WYNDHAM

Southland Times, Issue 24227, 10 September 1940, Page 9

WYNDHAM

MEETING OF TOWN BOARD

An explanation of the increased levy was given by the - secretary of the Southland Hospital Board in a letter received at a meeting of the Wyndham Town Board.

“The following are figures for the past year and also for the current period:— 1939-40, levy £188; 1940-41, levy £196 8/6,” stated the letter. “The reasons for the present increases may be summarized under the following headings:— (1) Increased number of beds to be available this year, 325 as against 292 for the past year; (2) increase in remuneration to the visiting medical staff, £3500 above the figuri paid for the past year; (3) reinstatement of Southland Hospital, cost £4023 over and above the amount received from the insurance company. “It should be noted that maintenance expenditure estimated for the current year totals £118,314, as against an actual expenditure of £112,663 for tire previous year, an increase of £5651. Your board’s share of this increase is 15/4. “Because of increased revenue, contributory local authorities together only meet £275 of this added cost. On the maintenance rise, therefore, although 33 extra beds are budgeted for, with the costs of all commodities and wages in-

creasing, the added burden to local authorities is £275 above the £36,759 4/1 levied last year. “The main reason for any considerable increase is, therefore, capital expenditure, under which heading comes the reinstatement of the Southland Hospital. Net capital expenditure totals £21,461/3/’-, against £14,831/5/- for 1939-40, an increase of £6629/18/-, of which your board’s share is £9/3/10. Practically the whole of such increase may be set down as. a result of the disastrous fire at Kew Hospital in August 1939. Capital works not estimated for in 1939-40 had, because of the emergency, to be carried out, and the capital account at the end of the year showed a substantial debit balance of £2605/12/4. The Kew reinstatement will cost about £4OOO over and above the insurance moneys received.” In moving that the Hospital Board be thanked for its letter, but that the Town Board expressed regret that ho relief was promised in the near future, Ci; H. Hunter said the opinior should also be expressed that the board, wa- of the opinion that the bulk of the capital expenditure should have been provided for by 1 loan ar.d not by levy. This was seconded by Cr A. A. Wilson.

The meeting was attended by Commissioners L. Harper (chairman), A. A. Wilson, H. Hunter, C. G. Dave;’, T. K. Clarke, S. Clarke and A. T. Haydon. Correspondence was read from the Southland Progress League enclosing a letter from the Main Highways Board intimating that because of the necessity for providing for other works which were considered more urgent, it was not possible to go on with the sealing of the Eder.dale-Wyndham highway at present.