£350 INCREASE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1935, Page 5

£350 INCREASE

HOSPITAL LEVY CONSIDERATION BY COUNCIL. An increase of nearly ■ £3BO in the proportion, of the levy for 1935-3(5 was notified to the Hokitika Borough Council by the Westland Hospital Board last evening, the amount being £1125/11/3 as .-against £746 last year. The Mayor (Mr G. A. Perry) said it was a big increase, but as far as he could see it was inevitable, and the Council would have to pay it. The Board had given full consideration to the matter, and he was sure the levy had been made as low as possible. However, there came a time when it was impossible to avoid heavy expense. Cr. T. W. Duff, who is chairman of the Board, said the members of the Board were all anxious to keep the expenditure as reasonable as possible. With the increased number of patients, and the consequent addition to the staff, it became necessary, to increase the levy. The Department had gcfcie into the estimates very carefully, and, with one exception, they had been approved. There was no other way of meeting the expenditure than by raising the levv ) thereby carrying on the adininstration of the hospital as it should be done. He was sure the Council and other local bodies would see it was ' necessary fo take the step the Board had done. *

The Mayor said he was sure the Board would act as economically aB possible, while he was just as certain the Council’s representatives on the Board were looking after their interests. He suggested the T°' vn Clerk, when compiling the Borough estimates, should increase the rate according to the levy, and not for the increase from'the general fund. There was no doubt conditions generally had improved, and the people would be in a better position to pay than a year or two ago. The Council had been obliged to curtail-its expenditure owing to restricted finance, but it had not hitherto increased the rates - despite the stringest conditions prevailing.