HOSPITAL LEVIES REDUCED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 7

HOSPITAL LEVIES REDUCED

POSITION «F WAIKATO BQARD EFFECT OF SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS (PRESS 4.SSOCULTIOE rTT.TJIB m ) „ HAMILTON, April 19. Because of the excellent, financial year which has been experienced by the Waikato Hospital Board, the ratepayers of'local bodies .contributing toward . the upkeep of the institutions under the board’s jurisdiction will gain consideragle savings. A reduction of £17,147 4s 9d, or 27 per cent., has been made in the total levies for 1940-41. The levies for the year, amounting to £45,393 7s 7d, compared with £62,540 12s 4d - for last year, were approved at a meeting of the board. “I am pleased to inform you that the board completed the year in*a very satisfactory position, due to a large extent to the increased collection of old accounts, and also collections from the Social Security Fund for treatment of patients,” said the chairman (Mr F. Findlay), when the estimates for the year were being considered. . “After allowing for. receipts of leviesand subsidies, the board finished the year with a surplus of £30,635 17s. The introduction of social security b mefits for patients of the hospital on July 1 last. resulted in the board receiving far , greater revenue than anticipated. Actually • patients’ fees and social security receipts received for inmates of the hospital in Hamilton were £’6,225 12s lid in excess of the estimated return, and for all hospitals under the board’s jurisdic- ■ tioh £28,108 over the estimate.” ; A proposal was made by the chairman that the board consider establishing a sinking fund for future building requirements, and he suggested that £ 10,000 should be set aside for that purpose this year. After a discussion the board rejected the proposal.