FINANCE INVOLVED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 224, 21 September 1945, Page 4

FINANCE INVOLVED

PURCHASE OF MATERNITY HOMES SUGGESTED LEVY OPPOSED. “I am totally opposed to striking any subsidiary levy for the purchase of maternity homes,” said the chairman of the Wanganui Hospital Board, Mr. D. D. Simpson, when the question of financing certain schemes was under discusion at the monthly meeting yesterday. Projects are the purchase of two privately-owned maternity homes in the city and the provision of temporary accommodation for nurses. ’I he secretary, Mr. K. Harms, reported that there were two ways of finding the money required. It could be raised by bank overdraft, or by a subsidiary levy on contributing local authorities.

Mr. N. Hughes (Maxwell): Another levy I don’t like that idea. Mr. Harris said that if a bank overdraft were obtained it would be necessary to a?k the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer) to put through certain legislation to enable the board to adopt this course. “This has been forced on us,” declared the chairman. “We have no option in the matter, and we were given no indication when the estimates were framed as to what was likely to happen. I, for one, would not like to go to the ratepayers for another levy.” Mr. A. C. Coleman (Marton): All the rate demands are out. It would be most unwise to strike another levy at this stage. It would cause a certain amount of strife. Mr. T. C. Kincaid (Taihape*: It would cause a great, deal of strife. The board decided to apply for provisions which wil lenable it to raiise the required money bv overdraft.