CHARITABLE AID

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 107, 8 May 1931, Page 9

CHARITABLE AID

DECREASED SUBSIDY

DISAPPROVAL EXPRESSED

Disapproval of the Government's action in reducing .by 10 per cent, the subsidy to the Hospital Board for charitable, aid purposes was expressed by members at-to-day's meeting of the Makara County Council. The question arose out of a letter received from the Hospital Board enclosing a copy of. the levies for 1931-32, and the.proportion payable for the year by tho Makara Council. The council's. contribution ' amounts to. £1281 19s sd. ' . ill-. J. Purchase said that the whole thing p was a paradox. ' • • \ The' chairman (Mr. E. Windley) said that the contribution was based on capital, value. When local bodies had! a revaluation and values went up, contributions increased accordingly. As a result of the decreased subsidy there was a possibility'of; localI'bodies being called upon to make a further contribution later on. If that were tho case there would b$ no subsidy on that. When the Government decided to cut down the subsidy to' charitable aid by 10 per cent., th.V'Hospital Board made every possible reduction in expenditure, except ... in the ease of tho Social Welfare Department. The allocation to this department was increased by £15,000 this year oii account of 'the heavy demands made upon it. He did not think that the council should support tho Government in its decision to cut down the subsidy. The Hospital Board was doing all it could to help those in need, but it could, not bo expected to do the impossible. :. Mr. Windley moved that the1 council express its disapproval of the action of tho Government, and communicate with the Hospital Board .with.a view to placing the position before the Government again, and asking it in the event of a further demand on public bodies, to subsidiso the Hospital to that amount. The motion was carried.