WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1927, Page 1

WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD

WEDNESDAY, ARIEL Oth. SPECIAL MEETING. The special meeting of the Board was held at 8 p.lll. Present: —Messrs J. J. Breeze (Chairman.), G. Davidson, R. Alcharrv, E. A. Wells, W. Jell vies, M. Keenan. L. IT. Alorel. An apology was made lot- the absence of Air Spiers. The Chairman stated the business was to fix the annual levy for the coming year.

The Valuation Department notified Hie following valuations of the contributing bodies:—

Westland County 743,067 Hokitika Borough 354.954 Kumara Borough 20,870 Ross Borough 19.809 TOT AI £1,139,660 Received. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. PROPOSED LEVY. Sirs.—For the year just closed we show a debit balance of £715 11s Id, which is accounted for by the increase in patients treated for the year, the numher being 351 for 1925-2(5. Ibis year the figure is 117. an increase of G 6 patients, showing that our institution is becoming more useful to the inhabitants.

The. estimate placed before you shews provision is made to meet this increasing use of the hospital. Our receipts shewed a slight increase on the estimate whilst the expenditure shewed a corresponding increase. On the recent visit of the Hon. Minister of Health, he informed the members of the Board that the increased cost of the hospitals of the Dominion is 40 per cent for 1926-27 and 110 cannot see any possibility of an immediate Reduction in the cost of maintenance throughout the Dominion.

The only capital expenditure the hoard is making is for the purpose of bringing the land recently purchased into cultivation with a view of reducing the cost of our milk production. The estimate placed before you has been fully considered. Any reduction thereof will simply mean an overdralt at the end of the financial year. —Received.

The Secretary (Air Bruce) submitted a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure for the coming year together witli ti statement of the past year’s finances. The estimates showed the total proposed to be levied from Vocal bodies was £2.959 10s 4d (as against last year’s levy of £2,328 14s lid).

A lengthy discussion took place, Air Jeffries urging that the amount proposed to he levied should he reduced so as to bring down the amount to he drawn from the local bodies somewhat about that of last year.

Alter tt lengthy debate it was resolved to reduce the estimates b.v £7lO, bringing the proposed requirements to £5,990. of which the Government subsidy would amount to £3,344 7s 3d. leaving the local bodies to find £2,(145 12s Od.

The Chairman then moved that the estimates as revised be forwarded to the eontrbuting bodies for consideration and that a further meeting of the Board be held on Wednesday, April 27th, at 8 p.lll. to confirm the levy. Mr Jeffries seconded the motion, expressing his satisfaction that the Board had met the views of tlie County representatives by reducing the amount to he levied to a resaonabl'e amount. The mot inn was agreed to on the voices. 'l’lte amounts to he levied are as pillows : Westland County, £1727 Is Od, payable in 9 instalments of £l9l IPs. (Last year £1548 14s fid.) Hokitika Borough £824. in nine of £9l 11s 2d. (Last year Cfi99 0s Id.) Kumara Borough Council £4B 9s. In nine of £5 7s fid. (Last year 3s 7d.) Ross Borough. £4fi 2s 3d. in nine of £5 2s fid. (Litst year £39 Ifis fid.) The meeting then terminated at 9.15 p.lll.