THE HOSPITAL LEVY.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1923, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL LEVY.

NEW PLYMOUTH’S PROPORTION. COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED. . The increate in the hospital maintenance levy as it affects the borough of ' New Plymouth, in connection with I which complaints were voiced nt the last i meeting of the council, was referred to ■ the general manager of the Taranaki ! Hospital Board (Mr. E. Holden) by a i Daily News representative yesterday. The rateable capital value of the > Hospital Board area in April, 1922, was given as £7.469,148 by the Valuation Department, of which New Plymouth s 1 share was £2,056.440. In April, 1923. ' the. total was supplied by the Valuation ! Department as being £8,785,146, of i which New Plymouth’s share was I £3,412,219. It can be seen, therefore, ! that almost the whole of the increased valuation is borne by New Plymouth, and the levy has accordingbly been struck on the new valuation. The other contributing bodies have been more for'lnnate, as their levies have increased only by the extra threepence in the I £lOO made by the Hospital Board. I Prior to receiving the 1923 valuations, the Hospital Board, whose levy last year was based on 2s 9d in the £lOO, had decided to increase the levy by sixpence, which, on the previous years valuations, would have provided an extra £1852 5s 6d. On receiving notice of the new valuations, however, It was found that aq extra threepence would meet the board”s requirements. It is realised that the new valuations have this year adversely affected the New Plymouth Borough ’ Council when compared with other local bodies, but the law provides that the levy must lie struck on the total valuation, and not on a differential basis. Thus it would not be permissible to rate New Plymouth at 2s 9d in the £lOO, and other contributing bodies, rated on old valuations, at 3s in the £lOO. even though this arrangement might in the eircumI stances seem more equitable. I Regarding the Mayor’s statement that i the board did not supply contributing bodies with a copy of hospital expends ture, Mr. Holden points out that the Government auditor is at present auditing two years’ expenditure by the Hospital Board. All accounts have to be audited and signed by the Auditor-Gen-eral before being presented to local bodies, so it con be seen the matter is outside the scope of the board. It is expected that details of expenditure will be available in about a month a time.