HIGHER LEVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1936, Page 15

HIGHER LEVY.

HOSPITAL BOARD.

ESTIMATES ADOPTED.

review by chairmah,

The Auckland Hospital Board's estimates for the forthcoming year, as detailed in yesterday's "Star," were adopted at a special meeting of the board yesterday afternoon. | In moving the adoption of the | mates the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, said that the increase of the levy from ,2Ud at which iigure it had remained tor the past four years, to .28d was necessary i« order to provide essential ser- j vices. This would increase the amount of the levy from £106,580 to £114,413, while the Government subsidy would be increased by £19,077. Mr. Wallace drew attention to tlie fact that due to a reduction each year in local body valuations totalling £3,543,000 during the past four years, the actual levy on them had been reduced by £5,012, while the Government subsidy had been reduced during the same period by £9702. This year the valuations of local body districts had again decreased by £928,785, while there had been large increases in popula-

tion. | Mr. Wallace summarised the reasons why an increased levy was necessar} as "follows: The- board last year with a deficiency of £15,132, which must be made good; provision, must be made for the treatment of an increasing number of patients at the hospital, infirmary, Knox Home and sanatoria; a more liberal scale of grants had been undertaken in respect of relief recipients, who were also increasing in numbers; the medical and nursing services at the main hospital had been improved by the appointment of additional senior skilled staff; prices of most commodities purchased by the board had risen considerably; the work-

ing conditions of the staffs had been improved by the restoration of the 10 per cent cut and by reducing the hours worked.

"Many of our staff were working as long as 50 to 05 hours per week, with one day off a fortnight and one statutory holiday in two," stated Mr. Wallace. "All staff have now been put on a basis of 48' hours per week, with one day and a half off in each week and all statutory holidays. This cannot be done without increasing the staff and at the same time the cost. The board

itself has done all possible to augment its income and receipts from fees in the past year constituted a record, over £07,000 being collected as against the estimate of £58,000. Every efFort lias | bean made to economise wherever it is possible without impairing efficiency, but it has to be realised that the board cannot go on treating an increasing number of patients, providing better facilities and service, improving the working conditions of its staff and paying more for its requirements without the cost of its institutions rising. Despite the much higher demands than elsewhere in respect of relief, the Auckland Hospital Board's service is still prjven at a lower cost to its population than is that in any other major centre."