HOSPITAL FINANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19405, 13 August 1926, Page 8

HOSPITAL FINANCE.

Sir, —Perhaps it is not opportune to make comments on anything transpiring at the hospital inquiry, but some of the data furnished by Mr. • E. A. Kiilick is suggestive and some of it possibly does not put the position in a true light. The statement showing that the rate in the Auckland hospital district of .25d in the £ capital value is nearly the average for New Zealand needs to be taken, as far as I can see, together with the statement that the beds provided in the Auckland Hospital arc 1.6 per 1000 of the population below the average for New Zealand. If tho beds provided in Auckland were up to the average for Now Zealand, how should we stand in regard to rate in tho £'! Rather unfavourably it would appear. So we niav have reason to thank our stars that '2.8 beds per 100Q is sufficient in Auckland against 4.4 per 1000, tho average for New Zealand. The reference to the .variation in rate in the £ levied in different hospital districts may bo quito misleading, inasmuch as there is considerable variation in valuations. Waihi is instanced as levying a rate oi 2d in tho £ against Auckland's jd in the £. Waihi being a small hospital district it may stand at great disadvantage in regard to hospital finance. On the other hand, I understand that revenue to local bodies from gold production has, to a large extent, rendered it unnecessary to collect high rates for the ordinary requirements of roading and maintaining the various services controlled by the local governing bodies in the Waihi hospital district. Naturally this would reflect on the valuations, on the hospital rate in tho £ necessary and also on the total rates levied on the property in the district. In other words Waihi with a 2d hospital rate may not be as highly rated as Auckland with a id rate for hospital and charitable aid purposes plus other local taxation. John Routxy. Auckland. August 12, 1926.