Hospital Board Levy

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 348, 8 May 1928, Page 14

Hospital Board Levy

LOCAL BODIES PAY PIPER Alarm at Unwarranted Increase” IT came as something of a shock to the Mount Eden Borough Council to learn last evening that the Hospital Board’s levy for the ensuing year is to be increased by £1,255. I Last year the levy amounted to £5,308. The new figure is £6,563.

Strong protests were voiced by several councillors, who expressed concern that the Hospital Board should be vested with power to Impose what levy it might think fit. Cr. A. M. Bryden said that the increasing liability year by year was becoming a great burden, and if allowed to go on would necessitate raising the borough rates. He suggested that local bodies should be called together with a view to formulating a fairer scheme. Cr. W. G. Lange said that the board gave the local bodies no respite, and even in times of stress it raised the same old cry of more money. “A few years ago the rate was Id in the £l,” said Cr. Lange. “To-day it is 5d in the £l. The additional levy represents approximately ljd increase to the Mount Eden ratepayers. “The Hospital Board calls the tune and the local bodies have to pay the piper,” added Cr. Lange. He moved that the council should protest against the unwarranted increase in the levy, and that legislation should be sought limiting the powers of hospital boards with regard to the imposition of the levy. The Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, agreed that the relief department of the board should receive consideration from the Government. This branch of the board's activities should be met out of the Consolidated Fund and not be borne by ratepayers. “We seem powerless to do anything,” said Cr. G. L. Taylor. “The Hospital Board occupies a unique position. It is responsible to nobody and only has to allocate the levy which needs be paid.” Cr. Lange’s motion was lost. An amendment was carried calling the attention of the board to the increasing levy and requesting it to allow the rate to remain at .25d in the £1 instead of ,3d as decided upon, in view of the increase in the capital value of the borough, which was now assessed at £5,250,959. ONEHUNGA PERTURBED GOVERNMENT’S DUTY CONFIDENCE IN BOARD When the Hospital Board’s demand for £3,456 was received by the Onehunga Borough Council last evening, the Mayor, Mr. W. C. Coldicutt, said

that all the council could do was just to pay up, notwithstanding that the amount demanded was £960 in excess of last year’s levy. Councillor Speight took exception to the ratepayers in suburban areas being called upon to pay toward the relief of the poor of the city. He said that the Hospital Board had paid out £33,000 last year in charitable aid. whereas this relief should have been given by the Government, which had brought about the present economic conditions.

Unemployed men did not want charity. They wanted work, and it was the duty of the Government to open up reproductive work for them. Councillor Moor said that the hospi tal levy on Onehunga had jumped from £1,500 to £3,500 in three years, and he questioned whether the Hospital Board was as careful with its funds as it might be. He moved that a protest be made to the board. Councillor F. S. Morton said that the whole position in New Zealand to-day had been brought about by the Government, and it would be more serious still. Customs taxation had risen to enormous proportions, and it would assist the Hospital Board if a complaint were made to the Government. The Mayor: This motion is virtually one of no confidence in the Hospital Board. 1 do not think it should go forward in that form. Councillor Moor: In the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals complains of the board’s extravagance, surely there can be no harm in the poor ratepayers complaining also. The Mayor: 1 do not consider that the Hospital Board is actually wasting money, and I would not like it to go forward that this council has no confidence in it. Councillor Moor thereupon withdrew his motion, and the board’s letter was formally received. PALMERSTON PROTEST Press Association. PALMERSTON N., Monday. The Palmerston North Borough Council this evening raised a protest against the mounting hospital levies, and decided to write to the Minister of Health, asking him to bring forward legislation to put a check on hospital expenditure throughout New Zealand.

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