HOSPITAL FINANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21368, 12 March 1941, Page 9

HOSPITAL FINANCE

NEW METHOD ADVOCATED COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION The Waikato Hospital Board's proposal to proceed with a portion of its major building scheme was again discussed by the Waikato County Council at the monthly meeting yesterday. The board’s secretary wrote setting out the proposals and the reasons for them, asking for approval. It was, proposed to spend £2500 on a new residence for the medical superintendent and £2500 for a hospital annexe at Taupo. The chairman. Mr J. A. Sampson, said if the Health Department required that the residence be erected thait was the end of it. It was no use the local bodies objecting. If the council persisted in its refusal, the work would be done, and the cost charged to the ratepayers. Mr R. G. Young said he would oppose the scheme. It was time the county council took a stand against the ever-increasing costs to the ratepayers. Debt was piling up in all directions. It was time for a change. The opinion was expressed that hospital rating and costs should be placed on a different basis. Hospital boards should be separate rating bodies, with the power to place the incidence of contribution evenly. It was decided to approve the scheme set out in the board’s request, but only under protest, the council being of opinion that an alternative method of providing finance for hospital maintenance should be considered.