HOSPITAL LEVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 90, 16 April 1940, Page 6

HOSPITAL LEVY.

REDUCTION POSSIBLE. STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN. MANY PROBLEMS AHEAP. The possibility of the Auckland Hospital Board being a.ble this year to reduce the levy made on the contributing local bodies was indicated to-day by the chairman, Mr. Allan J. Moody, who said the estimates would be presented at a meeting of the board next Monday evening.

Mr. Moody said it had already been announced that the present levy of .42d in the £, would not be increased, and he was confident that the ratepayers would have every reason to be well satisfied with the decision that the board would make.

"If we can reduce the levy, we certainly will," added Mr. Moody, who went on to point out that the board had still many problems to face. In the estimates provision had to be made for the payment of the visiting medical staff to the hospital, but on ' that subject finality had not been reached, and negotiations were still proceeding. Mr. Moody said that the Social Security legislation and its operations had benefited the board's finances to a considerable extent, but on the other hand there was a tendency for wages to increase, and there had been a steady rise in the cost of food supplies and many of the materials required for hospital work. The board had also to consider a growing need of extension of maternity services, district nursing and more provision for T.B. patients. Mr. Moody added that there were a good many unknown quantities to be taken into consideration in arranging the board's finances for a year ahead. During the past year, without any lack of efficiency, he considered that the board had saved £30.000 with various economies which had been put into force. I