WAIHI HOSPITAL LEVY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16781, 26 April 1926, Page 8

WAIHI HOSPITAL LEVY.

DEPENDENT ON THE GOLD DUTY. EFFECT OF REDUCTION. The difficulties in which the Waihi Borough Council finds itself through the largely increased hospital levy it has been called upon to pay to the Waihi Hospital Board in view of the reduction of the gold duty upon which it was largely dependent in the past were represented to the Minister for" Hes'lth, the Hon. J. A. Young, -during tho -week-end, when the Minister was asked if a special subsidy could be obtained from tho Government to assist the Council. The Mayor of Waihi, Mr W. M. Wallnlltt, chairman'of the deputation which wailed on Mr Young, said that the Hospital Board's expenditure had been increased by the fact that patients from the Tauranga and Thames districts were often treated in the Waihi Hospital. The council's revenue from life gold duly had been reduced from £30,000 to £25,000 per annum, to' £6OOO per annum, while Ihe hospital levy had increased to £2OOO. Attempts to obtain redress from the Thames and Tauranga hospital boards had not succeeded. The Minister said he did not. nold out' much hope of the council securing a special subsidy from the Government. He counselled the deputation to urge the Waihi Hospital Board to keep its administrative expenditure within tho bounds required to meet the needs of the people within its own district only and not to lake patients from other districts.