HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3682, 21 July 1886, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID.

(By Telegraph.) Blbnhbim, July SO. An important decision was given to-dßy by the Commissioners appointed to hear the appeal of the Awatere Road Board against the contribution levied by the District Hospital Board for hospital maintenance and charitable aid. The District Board assessed all contributing bodies at the same rate on the rateablo value. The Awatere Board appealed on the ground of small population, few patients, and tho distance from the hospital. The Commissioners held that tho act gave the discretionary power to vary the contributions and tbat it was not necessary that all contributing bodies should pay at the same rate. They held that unless powor to reduce the contributions was given by the act, the right of appeal on the ground that the assessment was unjust would be meaningless. The Commissioners reduced the assessment from one-twelfth to one-twentieth of a penny on the capital value, the effect being that tho District Board will have to increase the contributions from the borough of Blenheim by sixty per cent, as no other country contributing bodies will follow the Awatere Board's example.