1.—15

The immediately preceding table does not include details concerning Hospital Boards. Hospital Board statistics are not tabulated with other local-body statistics by the Census and Statistics Department, but are dealt with by the Health Department and published separately by that Department as an Appendix to its own annual report to Parliament. Further, the method of tabulation is different from that adopted by the Census and Statistics Department, and hence comparisons are not always available. It is desirable, however, to show the total indebtedness of all local authorities, including Hospital Boards. Due to the factors just mentioned, the following table may not be absolutely accurate, but gives an indication of the general trend. The following table shows the gross and net indebtedness of all local authorities in New Zealand, including Hospital Boards :—

Table showing Gross and Net Indebtedness of all Local Authorities (including Hospital Boards) from 1924-25 to 1943-44

In comparing this table, which includes Hospital Boards, with the previous table, which excludes them, the effect of the increase in hospital indebtedness is very evident. Whereas in all other local authorities the total net debt has fallen by over £8,500,000 since 1930-31, Hospital Boards' net debts have increased by over £2,500,000 over the same period, so that for all local authorities, including Hospital Boards, the net debt is reduced since 1930-31 by only £6,000,000. In fact, over the period Hospital Boards are the only bodies showing an increase in net debt.

* For separate details of interest and sinking-fund charges respectively, see page 45. f Excluding Hospital Board figures, which are not available.

44

Year, Gross Debt. Net Debt. L 2 an Unarge. £ £ £ 1924-25 .. .. .. 54,192,564 48,064,293 3,331,1631 1925-26 .. .. .. 60,515,948 52,549,798f 3,740,647| 1926-27 .. .. .. 65,382,220 57,793,740 4,050,895f 1927-28 .. .. .. 67,813,131 59,354,534 4,427,129 1928-29 .. .. .. 70,674,645 61,271,351 4,660,794 1929-30 .. .. 72,560,016 62,722,441 4,865,084 1930-31 .. .. .. 74,141,188 63,343,017 5,019,142 1931-32 .. .. .. 73,849,488 62,694,904 5,082,562 1932-33 .. .. .. 73,912,122 62,018,586 5,144,969 "1933-34 .. .. .. 73,364,34-2 60,901,994 4,647,248 1934-35 .. .. .. 72,470,400 60,575,882 4,535,571 1935-36 .. .. .. 71,525,765 60,260,030 4,512,151 1936-37 .. .. .. 69,719,359 58,987,239 4,548,938 1937-38 .. .. .. 69,916,466 58,171,844 4,581,437 1938-39 .. .. .. 70,161,721 59,206,220 4,744,602 1939-40 .. .. .. 71,502,170 60,257,829 4,884,323 1940-41 .. .. .. 70,172,756 59,971,524 4,979,710 1941-42 .. .. .. 69,232,536 59,222,468 5,034,606 1942-43 .. .. .. 67,929,697 57,967,853 5,064,312 1943-44 .. .. .. 67,025,613 57,205,073 5,121,665