HOSPITAL RATING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 81, 9 April 1929, Page 10

HOSPITAL RATING

A, FAIRER BASIS MINISTER'S DESIRE REPLY TO DEPUTATION An assurance that ho recognises the necessity far evolving a better system of hospital rating, and that personally ho %vill leave • no stoiie unturned to give statutory effect.; to a fairer basis of taxation, should a system be found which is in the interests of all local authorities, ■ was given by tlie Minister of Health to-day to a ■ deputation re- . presenting tho majority of the counties in the South Island. The deputation was the outcome of a recent ■ conference of South Island County Council representatives which passed a resolution that the Government be urged to alter .the basis of hospital levies from the presont valuation basis to one-half on the capital value and one-half on population. ."' . The speakers were introduced by Mr. D. Jones, M.P. Tho chairman of the Ashburton County, Mr. J. Carr, said the counties had always felt they paid exsessively "in hospital levies as compared with the boroughs. Hospital statistics showed that thfe- burden of levies on local bodies had increased from £280,000 in 1916 to £626,000 in 1928-29. This expenditure was a heavy drain on the resources of the farming community. The levy per head of tho population in the cities, boroughs, and town districts was 7s 7d, while in tile" counties it was 12s. Tho conference -had been unanimous that the difference per head was too great, as it could not be held that residents of counties derived a proportionate' advantage from hospital •treatment; on the contrary, it was certain j that^ town residents derived ' greater. | benefits on account of hospitals being situated within their boundaries. Mr. Carr quoted the case of Ashburton County, where he said • the 1 contribution was £14 5s lOd for each patient, while the borough and town district contribution was £1 16s Bd. ■ What better argument, he asked, could there be for a revision when each county patient cost eight times as much as.each borough patient. The figures showed that a request for the levy, to be based on population would be fully justified. If the ■ basis. were altered-in accordance with the conference's resolution, tho levy on counties would bo reduced byls 4d per head, and: 7 that in cities and ..boroughs would ' be increased by Is per head, while a measure of relief would be given „ to farmers and the basis would be;, more equitable. „...'. , THE REPRESENTATION BASIS. The Ashburton County contribution, said tho speaker, was 15s 2d per head, while those of the borough council and the Tinwald Town Board wore 2s OAd and 3s 2Jd respectively. /The Act prescribed that the number of-representa-tives of eaeli contributing district on hospital boards should be- such as was determined having regard to the relative population of the districts affected, and also the relative values of the rateable property in those districts, and Mr. Carr submitted that the contributions should be. fixed .'oil'.tlie same basis. Many men occupying land had: small equity and big mortgages', yet they had to pay their eonribution towards the hospital on the. basis of. their debts. -Many farmers'were not "making working men's wages, and it was on behalf of them that the deputation was seeking relief. The Minister (the Honr A. J. Stallworthy): "But that does not apply generally to the \farming'community in the.South Island." ' Tho speaker-said there were many such instances where hardship was in-* flicted. ■ "■■ -', • '; . : ; '■■' ■ The Minister: "Of course a man with a small equity in his farm and a heavy mortgage is more likely to be sick at times. ".(Laughter.) "'. : Mr. W. T. Lindsay, representing the Waipara County, said'the levy per head in his county was 425, wTiile in Christchurch it was about 4s per head. Many old, people who had been farming for ,niauy years were hit very heavily.- The deputation recognised the need for hospital maintenance, but/, ho submitted that the taxation should bo national, and not a matter.of country, -versus (.own. The basis suggested; he thought, was very fair. Legislation might be framed to touch people who were able to afford to pay more—those in the cities, for instance, ■ who attended amusements, who incidentally in a large measure benefited most from the hos-, pitals. Tho means of making tho people healthy should, bo a .tax :on the whole community and not on 'one section. ■ The burden was becoming so,great on some people that relief should be given. . DISADVANTAGE TO COUNTRY. Mr. E. Bowinar, representing the Southland County, said that undoubtedly the hospitals, were inseparably connected with the cities, and in view of that special advantage to city .resi-, dents, it was not fair that the country people should bear a special burden by way of contributions. He declared that tho present system created a tendency for, investment in city properties rather than in rural lands, on account of the different rating. That should be adjusted so that at least no" disadvantage was placed on tlic man who chose f to live in the country. „ : '.

I. Outlining' the Department's _ view-., point at the request of the Minister, Mi;. Begg, Inspecting accountant for the Department, said that'the late' Minister ; of llcaltli had made tlip valuable, sug-: gestioii' tluit a combined conference should, bo culled of borough and country representatives with.a;view to- dis-i cussing the quest ion, and the 'Minister had been prepared, to favourably consider any mutual proposal tho confer-, enco might suggest, Mr. Begg said he personally could see no better way out of the problem. • : ■ ■'■'■. NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM. Replying to Uio deputation, the Minister referred "to the omeiency of the present hospital system and t« the economic value of the work being done in reducing sickness. He was aware that' the rating basis was a serious factor in the life of the Dominion., In some country towns they had "missed the bus" on account of the extraordinary rating position, and progress was at a standstill. The margin of investment had been swamped, and instead of the district being a growing one,-the ' reverse was the case. He appreciated the case submitted by the deputation, but he would have to analyse the position further. They would not be satistied : until they got a more equitable basis of rating. lie did not think any officer of the Department had ever claimed that The present system was perfect, though it might be said it was the best it had been possible to gain nci-eptance for. The speakers had,elaborated a good case, and it must have very serious consideration.

"If I am given time its Minister .of Health,"'said Mr.Stallwonhy,' "the most serious rnjisirloration will be given to your representations, and serious effort will he made to bring about a bettot basis for our hospital finances. Just how it is going to be done T am .not. prepared Co say. There is a conflict of opinion even anioiifrst local bodies in llm matter. 1 cannot s:iy exactly when any vainest; effort will be made to finalise the matter. ■ The Government lias

been only a short time in office, and has a tremendous programme ahead of-, it, but I am satisfied that it is absolutely imperative that we should evolve tho best system we can. Personally I'can. give you this assurance: that immediately we can arrive at a system that is in the interests of all the local bodies, or a juster basis than the present one, I will- leave no stone unturned,to sec that it becomes the statutory basis in this Dominion. lam perfectly satisfied, that we need have no fear at:all that any serious cry of town versus country, will be raised to impede : our arriving at a fairer basis.", ■=.*;=...

.Mr. Slalhvorthy added that if C a scheme was brought down he thought it won'd be a good course for it to be submitted to :i confevcneo::.p*. local-bod-ies before being adopted.' '""":,