HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 295, 6 May 1913, Page 2

HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

RAISING THE W4ND... TARANAKI'S COUNTY'S DIFFI: .CULTY. .. ' How to- find its contribution towards the cost of the new hospital at New Plymouth confront-ill the Taranaki County Council at its meeting yesterday. Two communications were received from the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. One advised the Council that the Board had prepared plans for a new hospital, at New Plymouth, by instruction of the Hospitals Department, and formally requested, payment by the Cbuncil_ for its contribution , ; of £5,34.4 towards the cost... The «econd:letter notified tttat the Council's, .contribution to' its funds' during' the current year (i would be £1,007, on the basis of Is' in the £IOO rateable value.' Members feelingly commented on the increase in the, general hospital rate from lOd to. Is, and wondered when it was going 'to stop but supposed that they could do nothing but grin and bear it. ' ] Touching on the projected new hospital, the chairman cxolain'e'd that the Council could raise the-contribution in shape of a loan, without approaching the ratepayers.' Th« 'position was. how- | ever, could the Councifalpbtain the money j from the Government, Advances Board? Owing to refusing to | advance any more money to local bodies I who had ■ exceeded the £5,000 limit in respect to lor.ijs, Jrpm the Board. !he was of the. qpinion,'that 'the Council j had not the slightest.nope.of obt.i.iutiiK r rom:,tjiat',scuJ;oe.. The CounI cil could not afford,,t,o go outside the ; Government in money. Mr. Brown- considered,'Yhati'the' local bodies should throw.the onus of erecting the hospital on the 'Goyernment itself, and when it wasjcompleted. let it collect the money from the contributing bodies. Cr. Morton wis inclined to think that if prop 3r representations were made to i the Government pointing out the unfairj ness of the position), tlvei'mone-v would Ibe forthcoming from the Advances 1 Board. " '/,:'" 'Accordingly, after further discussion, the Council deojdea'lip'-rrake -application to the Boavd for a loan of £5,344.