DAY BY DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14363, 14 May 1920, Page 5

DAY BY DAY.

* 1 Various County Councils nave lodged strong protests The Finance against the proof sent system nf Hospital Boards, providing funds for (he administration of hospital and charitable aid. The system is that at the commencement of Iho financial year the Hospit d Hoard estimates its probable expenditure foi/-the ensuing 12 months. It Hien allocates the amount over the several local bodies according to their respective valuations. The local bodies have no voice in framing the estimates or controlling the expenditure, and have no option but lo accept the assessment as fixed by the Board. The demands have been on the ascending grade for many years past, ami the contributory bodies have been aroused to the fact that the amount of the levy is a very big drain upon their annual income. They also consider that in the absence of - simultaneous periodical valuations throughout the whole of the hospital flistricl injustice is done to one portion to the benefit of others; They further contend that Hie method of raising the funds is wrong in principle, holding that it should be based on population "rather than on land values; and as the benefits conferred by a hospital are certainly greater in thickly-settled areas there is sound argument for the population assessment. The County Councils, generally, consider that the boards should be financed out of Hie Consolidated Revenue, through which everyone would contribute, ami as the demand for the amendment of the present method of finance is being persistently pushed, it is not improbable that the Government,will be forced lo consider the matter.