The Wairau Hospital Levy.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 15, Issue 30, 15 April 1904, Page 5

The Wairau Hospital Levy.

COST OF NEW BUILDING. The Building Committee of the Wairau Hospital Board presented a report at the meeting on Monday, stating that from correspondence received from Mr Chatfield, Wellington architect, it appeared that, in order to meet with the requirements of the district and obtain the approval of Dr MacGregor (Inspector of Hospitals], /3500 was required for the erection of the new hospital. The Secretary added that he had written to the Premier, pointing out that the £2500 originally estimated, /1300 of which had been promised by Government, was insufficient, and that the provision of another £BOO or £IOOO would be too great a hardship on the local bodies, especially in view of the strain put upon their resources by the recent flood. Without an additional grant the work would be difficult to finance, as hospital boards had no power to create an overdraft. A reply had not been received from Mr Seddon. Mr Green (Awatere Road Board) moved, according to notice, that the rates struck at last meeting be rescinded and an ordinary rate be struck in their place. If the new hospital was to cost so much the Government should have been approached for ad-q.iato assistance in the first place. The increased ordinary rate and the special levy of £4OO were too great a burden for the local 1 bodies. The prospect was that the expense would be still greater than was indicated, for there would be charges for furnishing, drainage, etc. The Chairman said that there were 1600 ratepayers, and the levy of £4OO would only mean 5s a head. Mr Bell seconded. He said that he voted against the resolutions passed at last meeting. Last year hospital rates in the Awatere district amounted to £393; with the new levies, the rates would amount to £628, an increase of £233. He did not object so much to the special levy of £4OO required for the new hospital, but be did not see why the ordinary rate should be advanced too. The latter meant an increase of £l2O for the Awatere, and on top of that there was the /117 in connection with the /400 levy. He thought economy was necessary, not only in regard to the new building, but also in respect to the whole administration. The heavier rates left the Road Boards hardly anything to spend on the roads. The hospital levies would take half the income of the Awatere Board, and managing expenses nearly the other half. Mr Meehan supported the motion. In seconding the resolutions of last meeting he acted in a proforma spirit, and he wished to withdraw any support he had given them. Ratepayers in the Awatere district greatly resented the imposition of such a burden. A flash hospital was not required—it would not be of much use to the Awatere district; and they should go slow Mr Shaw argued that the new levies were fully justified by the circumstances. It was unfair that members of the Awatere district who did not fully attend the Board meetings should upset the combined judgment of members who followed up affairs throughout. Mr Jackson was opposed to such heavy levies, especially as valuations had increased in some places by about 40 per cent. The new rates would absorb about one-third of the Omaka Road Board’s revenue. Mr Priddle, who was not present at last meeting, supported Mr Green’s motion. The principal objection to thd old hospital was the presence of bugs. This pest had been got under, and it would be better for the interests of the whole district to aim at its suppression than to place such a burden on the local bodies. Mr Penny said that if he bad been present at last meeting he would have dissented from the rating resolutions. He would have supported the £4OO levy, but did not see why the ordinary rate should be increased. Mr Macey said that he was loth to vote for the higher rate; but the estimates showed that provision would have to be made for the additional expense of furnishing, drainage, etc. However, he questioned whether j it would be legally possible to rescind the j rating resolutions, which were now in force.

He suggested that it would be better to refrain from collecting, say, the last quarter’s allocation if it were found that the Board could get on without the full amount. Mr Penny suggested that the £.\oo levy be not collected. Mr Murray opposed the increased levies. Mr Green questioned whether the course suggested by Mr Macey was practicable. The local bodies would have to collect direct from the ratepayers even it the Hospital Board did not call in the full amount. Messrs Bell, Meehan and Green, replying to Mr Shaw, denied that their object in opposing the higher levies was to curry favour with the ratepayers. Finally, it was resolved to adjourn till 2.30 p.m. on Friday next, so that a legal opinion might be obtained as to the validity of the proposal to rescind the rating resolutions. The Chairman and Messrs Macey and Bell were deputed to obtain the opinion. It was also decided to hold over other business relative to this subject for Friday afternoon.— Times.