HOSPITAL FINANCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 10 September 1927, Page 9

HOSPITAL FINANCE.

HAWERA BUILDING LOAN. LONGER TERM SUGGESTED. Friendly eriicism of the loan raised by the H-awera Hospital Board for the new buildings, and a suggestion tliat an endeavour should be made to secure a lengthened term in order to relieve the pressure of rates on the people ot the district in these hard times, ensued at the ordinary meeting to-day of th)2 Eltham County Council, . one of the contributing local bodies. Or. "MeWilliam said lie had given much thought to the matter of the huge loan raised and its extinction in the short space of ten years, -and, without casting any reflection on the members of the boai d, he thought they might consider the question of reconstruction of the loan so that the term might be extended and a measure of relief given to ratepayers. He said such operations were done quite often and the contributing bodies were certainly carrying a heavy load. It was, he added, a cruel impost, especially when it was considered that times had changed a good deal from those existing when the loan was raised, and he wondered if the council would suggest that some way be found to get. relief. They had to face it still for nmp years. (Jr. Campbell explained that the board had been in favour of a longerterm, but the department had refused this and said that it would not pay, as it now did, half of the principal sum ill yearly instalments. The department and the contributing bodies each paid £4OOO every year off the principal sum. The board could not get a 36 years loan.

Cr. McWdliam said it would make the burden easier, and he wondered the Government did not agree. Cr. Gifford said that if they made it a long period they would actually pay out very much more in the end. Cr. MeWilliam said that was not a valid argument, otherwise it would kill every long-dated loan. Cr. Campbell said they might perhaps extend the' loan by ten years, making a. smaller contribution each year. Mr McGuinness recalled that the Hon O. J. Hawken had said the Government would not consider a long term. There might however, be something done if they approached the other local oodies interested.

“Thp Department would like relief just now as we would,” said (Mr Campbell.

The chairman (Or. Belcher) agreed that it was a serious thing for them. He understood half went to maintenance and half to buildings. Cr. MeWil-iiam quoted from a speech of the Minister of Finance referring to local body affairs, that a- comparison of the figures of 1914 and of 1925-26 showed that farmers wore hit very hard. He brought the question, up to see if the heavy burden imposed on themselves could not be lightened and local taxation eased, and be asked in quite a friendly way that an attempt should be made by this council to obtain redress by means of a conference with other local bodies concerned. Cr. MeGuinnesa said that it might be found that in ten years the hospital would be found not large enough, and said lie iikter-stood there were already more patients than the. old hospital could have agoom mo dated. After further dismission, it was decided, on the motion of Crs. Me William 'arid Kmickey that the council’s representatives on the Hawera Hospital Board be requested to bring forward for consideration, the extension of the existing loan, with a view to reducing the huge capital levy.