HOSPITAL RATE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23317, 1 May 1941, Page 3

HOSPITAL RATE

30 PER GENT. INCREASE BOARD’S BUDGET EXCEEDS £400,000 An increase of approximately 30 per cent, in rates levied on local authorities was approved at.a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday, at which a budget of £412,000 was adopted. It was , claimed that, hi spite of the sharp rise the board’s rate would still, as in the past, compare favourably with those of other boards.’ . . -■ The rate will be 0.442 d in the £ capital value, or 36s lOd in every £IOOO capital value, compared with 0.340 d and 28s 9d last year. The total levy on local bodies will be £124,002 11s 7d, compared with £95,097 received last year. The subsidy to be received from the Government' is £131,754, compared with £80,009 last year. Mr C. Flavell, chairman of the finance committee, proposing the new rate, said, in part: “At this time last year, the chairman of the finance committee was able to tell you that a substantial decrease in the hospital rate could be carried into effect.. The reduction was due almost entirely to the fact ■ that when the previous year’s budget was being framed it was not known, when the hospital benefit provided for in the Social Security Act would commence.

“As .you know, the section of the act referred to came into operation in July, 1939, which meant that during the year ending in' March, 1940, very substantial fees receipts were received in'excess of the board’s estimate. Consequently, the financial year referred to finished with a large credit balance, and following this happy position the hospital rate was considerably lowered and the Government subsidy still more substantially reduced. “Possibly it might have been better for the rate to have remained at the same level as the previous year, for the position which we face to-day wcv.’.d not have been as acute. Heavy Demands

“The substantial increase in the maintenance of hospitals is due in part to the eyer-increasing demands of thfe public, <and also to the substantial provision which has been necessary for soldier accommodation. Further, in order to safeguard the position as far as possible, we'have been forced to buy heavily on rapidly rising markgts, and hold in reserve stocks of various kinds in order to meet possible emergencies.” Mr FJjavell gave a table, comparing the board’s rates levied in the years since -1925. It was as follows: Levy Levy on £l. on £IOOO.

The chairman (Mr L. B. Evans) reviewed the work done during the year just ended, emphasising the military demands upon hospital facilities. He said that in the capital estimates. for the new year provision was being made for the completion of additions to Ward IX; for a recreation room for soldiers; for the completion of the Xray installation: for the purchase of the new laundry site; for the completion of additions at Essex Hospital; for a nurses’ home and maternity block at Kaikoura;. for the completion of the capital programme at Burwoodu. for increases to the . staff accommodation at the sanatorium; for equipment for the new soldiers’ block at the sanatorium- and for expenses incidental To a loan which it hoped soon to raise for' Christchuffh hospital reconstrucour widely separated units,” Mr Evans said, "and the heavy expenditure to tnpir xnauir tenance, our hospital rate has remained the-lowest of any metropolitan area in New Zealand, and.m spite of the increase this year, I venture to say that we will still remain in this position.” ■-

Capital Value. Capital Value. N.Z.-Av. Rate. 1925 .. .236d 19/8 ,T1930 .. .2774. ,23/1 .2814 1935 .. ,228d 19/.228d 1936 ., ,245d 20/5 .2484 1937 .. ,271d 22/7 .2904. 1938 .. .299d 24/11 .3354 1939 ,. .338d 28/2 .3874 1940 .393d 32/9 .4474 1941 .. .340d 28/9 .3874 1942 ., .442d 36/10 — Capital Programme