CLAIM FOR HOSPITAL LEVY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3229, 27 May 1911, Page 2

CLAIM FOR HOSPITAL LEVY.

A COUNTY HOSPITAL PROPOSED.

COOK COUNTY COUNCIL’S ACTION

Some discussion ensued at the meeting of the Cook County Council yesterday consequent on a demand from tile Cook HospitaL and Charitable Aid Board for payment of the sum of £5721, being the Council's proportion of the amount required for the current year. The secretary of the Hospital Board wrote stating lie was directed to demand the sum of £5721, being tne Council’s proportion of tne amount required for Hospital and Charitable Aid expenditure for the year ending March 31st, 1912. The proportion of general expenditure was £1344, of which payment was requested to be 1 made in three equal instalments on the first day of August and November, 1911, and the first day of January, 1912. The proportion* of capital expenditure the Council was required to find was £4377, which was the Council's proportion of the expenditure estimated fo.r the present year in connection with the building of the new hospital, the amount to lie payable in two equal instalments on October 31st, 1911, and! January 31st, 1912.

The clerk (Mr J. Warren) presented the following statement: —“The. levy upon the Cook County Council will amount to say £11,560. The capital value of the County under the new assessment is £4,400,000. The interest upon a loan of £11,500' will amount to £660 12s fed per annum for a period of 361 years, that is if the State Guaranteed* Advances Board'be willing to lend that amount. To provide the amount required, if the Board is unable or unwilling to lend the whole sum pf £11,500 it could be raised by a special rate of one-fifth of a penny in the £ on the capital value of the County collected for 3]- years. If the loan can be made by the Advances Board then the annual charge for interest and sinking fund will amount to £560 12s 6d per annum for a period of 361 years. To meet this annual charge a special Tate of one thirty-second of a penny in the £ will be required to he levied for that period. Mr Warren also explained that if onesixteenth of ldl rate was imposed for charitable aid and one-fifth for the total rate would only be id altogether. Last year the county rates were lid for works, id for management, and |d for hospital and charitable aid and' bridge fund, a total of Id in the £. If ltd was struck on the new valuations the Council would have sufficient to cover everything. The chairman thought it would he better to pay the levy out of the general fund by striking a l-16d rate. It had been suggested) that the Borough Council and the County Council should raise a joint loan, hut he did not think that would be of much advantage. C>r. Lvsnar said that if the Cook County had to pay £11,500 it would be better to have a hospital of their own. The rates were increasing and lie was of opinion that they should!- approach the Waikohu County Council and see if they would be willing to joir- m establishing a hospital in the county. As time went on the rate would become almost unbearable t-o the County. He moved that the Waikohu County Council be approached on the matter. The chairman thought they would have to get a special act passed, but he did not see anything to prevent the resolution being carried. Or. Matthews seconded the motion and pointed out the hardships that the rate would be to some County residents. He thought the counties could run an institution much cheaper than the present one, but lie did not wish to reflect on members of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board'. Cr. Lvsnar said that his idea was to run cottage hospitals. If there were any serious cases they could' be sent in to the Gisborne Hospital and the counties pay the fees. The motion was then put and carried, and it was resolved to reply informing the Board of the decision arrived at.