HOSPITAL RATING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 132, 23 July 1941, Page 5

HOSPITAL RATING

MATTER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT COUNTY COUNCILLORS OPINION A letter was received from the Opotiki Council at yesterday's meeting of the Whakatane County Council stating that the ever increasing levies being made by Hospital Boards upon the contributory local authorities in, the respective Hospital Districts is a cause for grave alarm and it would seem that 1 the incidence of this form of taxation requires a very drastic overhaul if the unfortunate taxpayer is to be allowed to survive. Particularly inequitable was the position in Counties where a large proportion 'of the ratepayers and population is composed of natives. It was a clear statement of fact that the percentage of native rate collection throughout New Zealand is low, primarily because the legislation for the collection of natiVe rates was faulty; the natural corollary being that in those Counties with settled native population, the European ratepayers have to carry the native settlers in addition to bearing their OAvn rating liability. From this, burden a measure of relief could be afforded the European ratepayer if the Government would view the native problem as a rational one and grant increased sutf-i sidies on Hospital Capital'* and Maintenance levies. The Opotiki Council is pressing the Minister of Health to grant subsidies £2 for £1 in eases as instanced and sought support. It was decided that the Opotiki County Council be advised that i• was the Whakatane Council's confsidered opinion that hospital costs should be fully financed fx-om Social Security taxation.