HOSPITAL RATING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1942, Page 6

HOSPITAL RATING

A 'meeting of the emergency committee of the Municipal Association in Wellington today discussed the incidence of hospital taxation, upon which representations have recently been made to the association by a large number of local bodies. It is proposed that a further deputation wait upon the Prime Minister to lay before the Government the views of the association and of the local authorities upon such aspects as a. proposed increase in the social security contribution, an increase in the subsidy from national funds to hospital boards, or both, and payments in respect of patients from the armed forces.

A proposal is to be made to the City Council, by way of n6tice of motion, by Councillor J. D. Sievwright that the council, having heard the Prime Minister in reply to its deputation pleading that the Government should settle the earliest possible date at which the whole, national hospital levy should be paid out of the Social Security Fund, and having had no indication of that date, should resolve "to further defer the imposition of a double and treble fbrm of taxation upon the citizens of' Wellington by a ' hospital rate for £135,000 when they had'already paid approximately £1,500,000 by way of Social Security taxation to the Government itself for the maintenance of hospital and charitable aid services." The motion states that there is no necessiy for the further tax in view of statements made by the Prime Minister and the Minister • of. Health as to the overflowing state of the Social Security..F.und,and- of ; the further tax this; year of 6d m- the £ on wages.