HOSPITAL FINANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 10

HOSPITAL FINANCE.

RIGHTS OF THE CONTRIBUTORS. (To the Editor.) Sir Ernest Davis, "our worthy Mayor," gave a most convincing reply to the attAck made upon him and the city engineer hy Mr. A. Moody, chairman of the Hospital Board, regarding the criticism of Mr. Moody's building programme. Mr. Moody's resentment cf the proper action taken ie to be deplored. Sir Ernest knows full well that taxation on property holders will be very greatly increased, but the apathetic public will not realise the importance of his action until they receive their rate demands, and this applies generally to the ratepayers of all contributory authorities. If the Minister of Health gives hit consent to the raising of a million and a half pounds, the interest and sinking fund will have to be provided by the ratepayers, who have no voice in the authorisation and raising of the loan, as eection 60 of the Hospitals Act, L 926, dispenses with the consent of the ratepayers by poll. The hospital rate is now a land tax and has practically been doubled during recent years. The burden will be great and protest futile. It is time the incidence of hospital rating was overhauled, as the floating population benefit chiefly, while the farmer and property holder have no redress and have to pay up notwithstanding. Local iKJdies for years,' in my experience, have ijrjred ~" the present and paet Governments to consider the position, but a deaf ear has been turned to their entreaties. It behoves local bodies to refuse to collect this land tax and ask the board itself to collect it. Stoppage of Government subsidies to local bodies would not cover the amount demanded, the sum of £167,870 being assessed to local bodies in the Auckland hospital district this financial year. Drastic Governmental methods are the order of the day, so there ie nothing, new in shifting the burden on to those who expend the money. The public are tired and resentful of Mr. Moody'e threats, and his frequent references to "my" board and "my" staff cause the ratepayers to wonder whether there is a at all, and why they voted for representative*: J%& to conserve their interest*. Yu&L FOUNDATION STONE.. vfp