Burden of Hospital Upkeep

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 134, 10 June 1935, Page 6

Burden of Hospital Upkeep

CONSOLIDATED FUND CANNOT SUPPLY GREATER HELP

Among suggestions recently voiced by local' bodies as a means of relieving the burden of hospital maintenance for the ratepayers, was one that the Consolidated Fund should provide a larger portion of the funds required. The Pohangina County Council forwarded tho suggestion to the Ministei of Health, and Sir Alexander Young has replied stating that tho proposal had been carefully considered on previous occasions, but it had been held that thcro were insufficient grounds justifying such increase. Under tho present system of subsidies, the Minister pointed out, the Government contributed on an equal basis with local bodies the not requirements of hospital boards for hospital and charitable aid purposes, lhe average subsidy was £1 for £1 ot levies on local bodies. In view of tho relative measure of administrative control as between hospital boards an.l the department, the Consolidated Fund, it was considered, boro an adequate proportion ol: tho board's requirements. It was appreciated that increasing amounts required for hospital and charitable aid purposes were in some instances creating difficulty for local bodies) but apart from the reasons already given, the present difficulties of tho Treasury rendered it impossible to consider the question of an increase in the rate of contribution from the Consolidated Fund. Or. W. Howell: Is the Consolidated Fund any harder up than local bodies'! Tho chairman (Cr. S. Strachan): Should wo send a further protest? What about the motor tax supplying something to meet the cost of dealing with motor accident cases?

Or. Howell suggested that other local bodies bo approached to get their views on the subject. Or. W. McKay: Won’t the Oounties’ Association do anything? The chairman: They have been hammering at it for years. Or. Howell: But the rank and file of '.he association must get behind the efforts of tho association’s executive, otherwise the force of their protests will be lost. The council took no further action.