FARMERS AND HOSPITALS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 11 March 1939, Page 16

FARMERS AND HOSPITALS

INCIDENCE. OE COST OF UPKEEP (rarsa ASSOCIATION. TELEGRAM.), WELLINGTON, March 10. _ The reply to Mr T. Jordan, president of the Municipal Association, who raised the question of hospital upkeep, is contained in >an official statement issued by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union this evening. ■ “It would be interesting to ascertain the source of Mr Jordan's in* formation.” says the statement, for neither the Health. Department nor the Hospital Boards Association i» aware of any recent _ reliable date being available for .this- purpose. •; “It is noteworthy that Mr Jordan states he is not concerned about whoprovides the' patients, This-agam is a vital matter far the farming com* m unity. Again, Mr' Jordan should be particularly well aware that large areas of fanning land are cotv tained within boroughs. Mr Jordan also fails to realise that a great pror portion of city rates finds its. wayinto costs which are imposed on the farmer. f ... “Mr Jordan also state that the proportion of population, according to the 1909 Official Year Book is, (including Maoris) 43 per cent, for rural and 56 per cent, for urban. A large proportion of Maori rates is not collectable, and the farming community' also, ha? to stand that cost. The figures demonstrate that even were Mr Jordans figures reliable the incidence of taxation' is still very unfair.” •