PAYMENT OF HOSPITAL LEVIES

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1234, 12 June 1947, Page 3

PAYMENT OF HOSPITAL LEVIES

monthly instalments

Waikato Board’s Decision That contributing local bodies (should be 'required to pay their levies by monthly instalments was decided by the W aikato Hospital Board' on Monday. A motion to this effec|. was moved iby Mr. H. D. Caro, seconded by Mr. H. W. Wilson, and carried after a discussion on whether the levy should be paid by monthly instalments instead of quarterly as in the past, After the board’s previous meeting a letter was sent to local bodies enquiring as to which system they favoured. Replies signifying that they agreed to pay the levy by monthly instalments were 'received from the Waikato County Council. Taupe Road Board,, Hamilton City Council, Leamington Town Board, and Huntly, Cambridge- Te Aroha and Morrinsville Borough Councils. Replies that they were unable to accede to the '"board’s request for monthly payments or preferred to adhere to the present method of payment by quarterly instalments were received l from the Putaruru. Town Board, Matamata, Te Awamutu and Rotorua Borough. Councils, and Waipa. Rotorua, Raglan, Otorohanga, Miatamata and Piako ■ County Councils. , Discussion Deferred The Kawhia County Council reported’ that it had deferred discussion on the subject. The board received a circular let- ’ ter from the Director-General of > Health suggesting that, in order to avoid as far as possible incurring of ■ interest charges on overdraft, beards should, collect levies from contributing local authorities without necessarily awaiting approval of • the estimates. The Director-General also suggested the levies should be payable "monthly. Mr. Caro remarked that he could not understand the opinion of some of the local bodies. Monthly payments would save them money even if they did pay overdraft. “I think it is to the advantage of the Government that we get the levies every month,” said Mr, V. W. Simms, “It would be to the advantage of ' the hospital board if we collect the levies monthly,” -said the chairrqan, Mr. S. C. B. Macky. The board would receive subsidies monthly. ■ Quarterly Demands After some discussion Mr. D. J. Burgess moved that the demands should be made quarterly. This motion. was seconded iby Mr. Simms. An' amendment moved by Mr. A. E. Bryant advocated that a further letter be written to all contributing . local, bodies, the position fully explained and that they should be asked _to support monthly payments as suggested-. Mr. Bryant said the fact that the board had power to demand monthly payments should be pointed out. . , Other members thought the matter should be decided at the meeting. The amendment was lost, being supported by the mover and the seconder only. Mr, Burgess’ motion was put to the meeting and beaten iby eight votes to six. Mr. Caro then moved that the board should require monthly payments. This was immediately car - ried.