"NO END TO IT"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 87, 9 October 1943, Page 9

"NO END TO IT"

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

The proposal of the Wellington Hospital Board to raise a further £40,000 to complete the block which was originally estimated to cost £165,000, was adversely criticised by members of the Makara County Council- at their monthly meeting yesterday. There seemed no end to hospital expenditure, remarked the chairman, Mr. R. W. Bothamley, and it was time all local bodies took a stand and saw that the legislation was altered or defied, and by defied, he meant defied. Their protests should be directed to the Government, not to the Hospital Board. Councillor Windley said that no doubt the expenditure was necessary, but an unfair burden was being placed on property owners. The ■Prime Minister had, when approached on the matter some .time ago, held out prospects of relief after the war, but on the eve of the election he had dashed all their hopes by declaring that hospital expenditure would never be a charge on social security. He would like to know which statement was correct, and he moved that a letter be sent to the Prime Minister asking for a clarification of his contradictory statements. This motion was carried.

Several members pointed out that, whether the council agreed or not, the loan would be raised and the work proceeded with. They had protested -before' when the original loan was raised, but such protests were of no avail.

The council agreed, under protest, to the Hospital Board proceeding with the new loan.