HOSPITAL DUES

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 42

HOSPITAL DUES

SOUTH OTAGO’S LIABILITIES. The Clutha County Council, at its meeting on Friday afternoon, had before it two interesting communications, one from the Otago Hospital Board, and the other from the South Otago Hospital Board. Cr J. Gumming presided over a full meeting of the council. Between the two boards it is evident that the council has some serious liabilities to face. The Secretary, Otago Hospital jßoard, wrote pointing out, that the board’s supplementary levy payable in one sum on March 24 last had not been paid. From newspaper reports it appeared that the council withheld payment in view of the board’s balance sheet not having been submitted. It had already been explained that this balance sheet could not be supplied until it had been received back from the Controller and Auditor-General. If the amount was not paid forthwith the board would be compelled to take other steps for its recovery.—Cr Maginness moved that the letter be received.—The Chairman moved as an. amendment that the council pay an instalment of £SOO on the claim made. It was now 15 months since the Alinister of Health instructed the Otago Hospital Board to collect this amount. That seemed quite a long time. The Alinister of Health insisted that there must he revenue coming in to meet the overdraft at the bank. At next meeting they might get a summons for £2OOO, and that would put them in queer street. Cr Harris said he understood the council was legally bound to pay the amount. lie seconded the amendment. Cr Maginness asked if it was not a fact that oilier local bodies still within the Otago Board’s area were not paying the amount demanded of them. In answer to the question why the council! should not pay. Cr North said the ratepayers were entitled to receive very much more from the Otago Board than they were getting. The Chairman said they 7 had undertaken that every shilling of the demand would be Paid in to tho Otago Hospital Board. There would be legislation giving effect to Ihe finding of the Rova! Commission, and he thought their share under this would be held up if the amount due was not paid the Otago Board. Cr North said they did not know what the amount due was. It was only an estimate. The Chairman said he proposed paying a-quarter of it. Cr Jack: Is there any doubt whatever.-ts to our legal liability? The Chairman : None whatever. He said they had at present £1347 in hand paid in for hospital purposes. The amendment was carried. The South Otago Hospital Board forwarded account for its levy on the council for the year 1921-1922, amounting to £5394 13s 3d. An accompanying statement of the board’s estimated expenditure and income for that period was as follows: Alainten-axce. Receipts.

The apportionment of the estimated expenditure among the contributory authorities within the South Otago Hospital District in proportion to the capital value of the rateable property in each contributory district as determined by the Valuer-general was: Rateable Capital.

£5,133,027 £9476 10 7 It was decided to refer this account to the Finance Committee for favourable consideration. Cr North said this might seem somewhat high, but it. was the same ns was levied by the Otago Board last year without the special levy to pay off the overdraft The levy was really decreasing instead of increasing. and ho believed it would still further decrease.

Hospital patients’ payments ... £ 450 Agents’ license fees 240 0 0 0 0 Amounts to bo raised by levies from local authorities 4902 1 5 Amount to he raised bv Governrnent subsidy 3932 18 7 £9575 0 0 Expenditure. Hospital maintenance £ 700 0 0 Charitable aid (outdoor) 1500 0 0 District nursing 1000 0 0 Administration 925 0 0 Amounts naid to other boards or institutions 5200 0 0 Rents, rates, and interest ... 250 0 0 £9575 0 0 Capital. Receipts. Amount to be received from local authorities £4674 9 0 Amount to he received by Goveminent subsidy 4674 9 6 £9343 19 0 Expenditure. Siite for hospital £1000 0 0 Purchase of building: for ternporarv hospital 2680 0 0 Establishment of building fund 5668 19 0 £9348 19 0

District. Values 1921-22. Lew 1921-22. Bruce County ... £1,742.212 £5249 13 1 Clutha County Boroughs— ... 2,891.969 5294 13 3 Bnlolutha 211,468 394 8 7 Kaitangata 102.620 191 13 4 Milton 184,758 345 17 4