COST OF HOSPITAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 118, 19 April 1932, Page 7

COST OF HOSPITAL.

REBATE TO RATEPAYERS. “The maintenance levy made last year was £19,826 7s and the proposed levy this year is £17,804,” the Palmerston North Hospital Board was informed yesterday by the manag-ing-secretary (Mr Phillipps). “If these estimates are adopted we will be granting to the local bodies a rebate of £2022 7s on the maintenance levy as well as £4OO on the capital levy. As previously mentioned this rebate is equivalent to a further 9.8 per cent, reduction. “In dealing with this item, I would like to point out that despite the fact that the board last year reduced its levy 10 per cent., only a small proportion of the local bodies made any reduction in the hospital rate. One realises, of course, the difficulties with which the local bodies have to contend with regard to the non-collection of rates, but 'in the interests of the ratepayers it would seem reasonable to assume that the further proposed reduction this year should be passed on by the local bodies to tho ratepayers. The rate of hospital levy in the £1 on the rateable capital value for tho year ended March 31, 1932, for tho following districts is quoted for general information: Auckland, ,224 d; Waikato, .167 d ; Wanganui. .191 d ; Palmerston North, ,183 d; Wellington, ,234 d; North Canterbury, ,216 d; Otago, .330 d; Southland, ,188 d. “The estimate for Government subsidy last year was £14,536 T3s and the proposed estimate this year is £13,377 0s sd. The subsidy rate this year will bo at 15s in the £l. Last year the rate was 14s Bd. It so happens that a reduction in the total requirements gives a greater relief to the local bodies this year than it does to tho Government subsidy, but, of course, in districts where the average subsidy is above £1 for £l, the converse is the result.”

The board adopted the figures submitted..