HOSPITAL RATING

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23349, 7 June 1941, Page 4

HOSPITAL RATING

ASHBURTON COUNTY COUNCIL SEEKS CHANGE

Alleged anomalies in the system of hospital rating as it affects country people will be brought to the notice of the New Zealand Counties’ Association with a request that the Government be asked to place the matter on a more equitable basis, according to a decision of the Ashburton County Council yesterday morning. Attention to the alleged inequality in hospital rating was drawn by the chairman (Mr S. P. Taylor) in his annual review. Rates were levied on the value of the land without consideration of the farmer’s equity or the' population of the district, he said. The provision of necessary additional accommodation would be costly, and an additional burden would fall on the ratepayers. “It is only reasonable that as this has. been necessitated by social security legislation that the full cost should be borne by the Consolidated Fund,” Mr Taylor said. . . It was appreciated that the Minister for Health (the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer) had admitted that inequality existed, he said. ' It was stated that under the present system men with mortgages on their properties paid rates on thei? debts in addition to the social security levies which should be helping to meet the expenses. Men who held mortgages were taxed on their land, their mortgages, and their incomes.