CORRESPONDENCE HOSPITAL RATING

Evening Star, Issue 22326, 30 April 1936, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

HOSPITAL RATING

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —At the meeting held yesterday to protest against the increase in the hospital levy of Id in the £ (equal to an amount of £10,000), at which Mr J. J. Marlow presided, some very illconsidered statements were made, which I will deal with on another occasion. There is, however, one statement made by Mr 11. E. Batchelor, ot Tuapeka, to which I wish to call attention. This gentleman is reported to have stated that “ The Otago Hospital rate was the highest of any of the 16 South Island districts and of most of the 47 districts in the Dominion.” Turning to the returns issued by the Department of Health for the year ended March 31, 1935, 1 find the following to be the case: —There are 45 districts, not 47. The levies made by the Otago Hospital Board constituted 33.2 per cent, of its total income, North Canterbury 36.1, Auckland 37.0, Wellington 39.0, Wairarapa 44.2, Hawera 40.9, Wallace and Fiord 41.9, Southland 34.9, South Canterbury 37.8. Altogether there were only 12 districts who levied less than the Otago Board, and the total amount of their levies came to only £26,533, whilst 32 districts actually levied more than the Otago Board. 1 would like to assure those gentlemen who have been appointed to lay their grievances before the board that they will receive a very sympathetic hearing, for they will find, as 1 have found, that the board gives every consideration to the “harassed ” and “ poor ” ratepayer —more so, in fact, than it gives to the those unfortunate people who are compelled to seek outdoor relief.—l am, etc., April 30* M. SiiVEWsxoNEe