MANIOTOTO LOCAL BODIES ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20707, 3 May 1929, Page 10

MANIOTOTO LOCAL BODIES ELECTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As there appears to be a considerable amount of misunderstanding among the ratepayers of Maniototo as to the position between the County Council and the Hospital Board, both bodies being elected by the same ratepayers, a few words of explanation at this time may not be out of place, and may help to a better understanding of the true position. The County Council derives its revenue from the rates imposed on the owners and occupiers of all rateable property within the county plus certain subsidies and free grants from the Government. The Hospital Board secures its revenue by demand on estimated expenditure for the current year from the County Council, which must, under the existing law, accede to the demand. The members of the Hospital Board, if not members of the County Council, may, in their zeal for the welfare of the institution, make such excessive demands on the council as will compel that body to raise the rates further to meet an expenditure which may be justifiable though not economical; nor would suchlike expenditure be sanctioned by the County Council as trustee for the ratepayers were the affairs of the hospital entrusted to it. The moral, therefore, in the coming election is for the ratepayers, to secure, if possible, the return of those candidates who are offering their services for the two positions, viz.. County Council and Hospital Board. —I am, etc., Safety. May 1.