SLIGHT INCREASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 3

SLIGHT INCREASE.

HOSPITAL BOARD LEVY.

DISPUTED ITEM OF £32,000.

FREE GRANT, OR ADVANCE?

Regarding as a straight-out grant from the Government the sum of £32,000, which was received during last financial year as an advance against this year's subsidy, the Auckland Hospital Board, in the estimates were adopted for 1932-33 at a special meeting of the board yesterday, allowed for a levy on the local bodies at the rate of .25d. The rate of the levy last year was .2430f1d, and had the board regarded as a liability the advance from the Government, the levy this year would have been .2Sd. The total amount to be levied from local bodies is £105,545, compared with £102,273 last year, an increase of £3572.

The Health Department advised that its position in regard to moneys available for the board was by no means definite, so that the board was not asked to budget within a givezi amount. The Department stated that it was not possible to indicate the amount available for subsidies; that it was anticipated the Government would withdraw subsidies on voluntary contributions; that the position of salary and wage reductions had not been finalised; that provision for unemployment relief was to be made for three months, and that the estimates would be subject to revision in the light of decisions arising from the present financial crisis. Total Maintenance Figures. Total maintenance expenditure for this year was estimated at £203,457, compared with the figure for last year, £249,007. The actual cost in that year was £299,952. The various items in which increases have been recorded are: Bank overdraft, £10,399; outdoor relief, £3500 (after allowing for three months only); sanatoria, £3000; dispensaries, T.B. and medical, £050; nursing and medical associations, £300; ambulance and ear expenses, £150. Total, £15,059. Decreases are as follow:—lnterest, £1211); refund to Government, £930; sundry items, £2120. Total, £4209. The original estimates of the board included provision for an increase in maintenance of £54,509. The local bodies were to have found £19,324, and other Government subsidies would return £35,245. The revised estimates, thoso adopted yesterday, did not include the Government advance of £32,000, as explained above, and with other minor adjustments provided for a final increase in maintenance of £22,090. Of this sum local bodies would find £0572, and the Government subsidy would account for £10,118. Reduction in Receipts. A reduction in receipts of £S9OO this year was allowed for, making the total sum £02,000, against £70,900 last year. Other reductions were: —Subsidy outstanding, £5222; hospital and other fees, £2350; rents and interest, £1000; Trotting Club fund, £2421; sundry items, £280; total, £11,279, less refund of Government subsidy for 1931-32 (£2379), £8900. The total increase ( £13,790 and £8900) is thus £22,090. For work of a purely maintenance nature, the proposed levy on local bodies was increased from £91,223 to £97,795, while the Government subsidy was increased from £87,543 to £103,001. Subsidy rate is estimated at 21/2, as against 19/2 last year. Capital purposes levy was £8050, against £11,050 in 1931-32. The subsidy amounts to the same figures as the capital levy, making a total reduction of £0000.