HOSPITAL RATES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 247, 29 July 1943, Page 5

HOSPITAL RATES

CHANGE IN SYSTEM ADVOCATED COUNTY ASSSOCIATION'S VIEWS. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 28. “Ratepayers are not seeking to dodge their responsibilities over the maintenance of hospitals, but certainly complain bitterly about a tax which double-hanks their payments to the Social Security Fund,” declared Mr ! W. Morrison, the president, in addressing the New Zealand Counties' Association at the annual conference to-day. Mr Morrison contended that land values were too artificial a basis on which to assess hospital rates, as they depended on the whim of valuers. The principle of equity would act fairly if those in receipt of salaries and wages, together with moneyed men, had to contribute pro rata to hospital taxes;

At a later stage a motion was moved that the present system of hospital rating be abolished and replaced by a system based on the.income, salaries, and wages of all adults; further, that immediately after the war sufficient, of the present National Security tax, say 2d or 3d in the £, he retained to replace the levies now being paid by contributing authorities.

The conference was addressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry), who expressed appreciation of the attitude of local bodies in refraining from pressing their requests for legislation during the war. He gave an assurance that as soon as conditions permitted he would lose no time in bringing county needs before Parliament for legislative attention. He hoped that counties would be well rewarded for their patience. , He paid a tribute to the part local bodies were playing in the patriotic effort in all branches, including finance, and in the face of evershrinking staffs and loss of trained personnel. He said he was a firm believer that local government was essential to the preservation of the best traditions of democratic government, and asked for partnership with local bodies in carrying into effect national administration