LOW SUBSIDY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 110, 9 April 1926, Page 2

LOW SUBSIDY.

HOSPITAL BOARD’S POSITION

The chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board (Sir James Wilson) j discussing at the annual meeting yesterday questions relative to maintenance charges, uttered a protest against the effect on this board ot the Government’s ssytem of keeping the Dominion average of subsidies down to £1 for £l.

The position, he explained, was that, if at the termination of the financial year the Government found it had paid out too much in subsidies, all hospital boards were called on to refund an amount computed on a capital basis. The Palmerston North Hospital Board was, under this heading, called upon to refund £BO4 18s 9d, although its subsidies received had actually only amounted to 14s. in the £l, and, after this refund was made, would be reduced to 13s in the £l. The Act, however, set out that the lowest subsidy to be received by boards was 14s in tho £1 and the position which now arose was most unfair.

At tho suggestion of Sir James it was resolved to protest to the Minister and also to direct the attention of tho Hospitals’ Association to the matter.