HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2222, 5 October 1886, Page 2

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir, — As some misapprehension appears to exist as to the precise nature of the decision recently given by the Commissioners in the Awatere Road Board v. Blenheim District Hospital case, will you kindly publish the accompanying report for the information of local bodies concerned. — Yours truly, Jas. McPherson, Clerk, Waikato County Council. [Enclosure. 1 Blenheim, July 20. The Commissioners appointed to hear the appeal ot the Awatere Road Board against the contribution levied by the District Hospital Board, for hospital maintenance and charitable aid, ha\e given their decision. The District Board assessed all the contributing bodies at the same rate m the pound on rateable value. The Awatere Road Board appealed on the grounds of small population, few patients and the din tance from the hospital. The Comnmpioners held that the Act r,\vc them discretionary power to vary the contributions, and that it was not necessary for all contributing bodies to pay at the same rate They held that unless powers to reduce contributions were given by the Act the right of appeal on the ground that the assessment was unjust would be ine.iningloss. The commissioners reduced the assessment from one-twelfth to one twentieth of a penny on the capital value, the effect being that the district board will ha\e to increase the contribution from the Borough of Blenheim by sixty per cent., as other country contributing bodies will follow the Awatere Board's example.