HOSPITAL LEVY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32597, 16 July 1945, Page 5

HOSPITAL LEVY

STRONG PROTEST DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL HAURAKI PLAINS FEELING DERATING OF LAND SOUGHT A deputation representing the Kerepeehi, Ngatea, Waitakaruru and Mangatarata branches of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union waited upon the July meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council requesting that the representatives of the council attending the counties conference in Wellington this month, support any suggestion for the derating of land as far as hospital taxation is concerned. Speakers both from the deputation and from the council emphasised the unfairness of the taxation and especially the recent increase in view of the fact that stabilisation had been introduced in New Zealand. Members of the deputation were Messrs N. Hedgds, L. Tye, G. Grey. H. T. P. Evans, D. Parker, J. Flynn, W. Buchanan, W. McLennan, F. Davis, .and C. Taylor. Mr N. W. Hedges (Waitakaruru), said the Waitakaruru Farmers’' Union had met recently and the question of hospital rating had been discussed. A resolution had ben passed requesting the delegates from the council to the Counties Conference to support the question of hospital derating when it was discussed at Wellington. The meeting considered the hospital charges should foe equally borne 'by all residents of the Dominion and 1 not by property holders. Condemned In 1929 Mr 'L. Tye '(Kerepeehi) asked that the council secure a promise from l the Prime Minister that the question of "hospital rating would be settled' after the war. He referred to the increase of oyer £l3oo' which the county had to find for hospital levy this year. There was no guarantee that the levy would not? increase again next year. ’The question of hospital taxation was condemned in 1929 yet nothing had been done to lighten the burden on the farmer. He appealed to the council to impress on the Government the need to alter this system of taxation as soon as possible. Mr G. Grey (Mangatarata) said settlers in his district were

alarmed at the increase in the hospital levy. They considered the land in their area was rated today at is fullest capacity. Social Security instead of wiping out the hospital rating as promised, had increased it. Cr. J. W. Neate assured the deputation that they had the support and sympathy of the council regarding the inequality of the hospital rating system. The Minister of Health had promised to investigate the whole position hut due to the war nothing had 'been done. There was no doubt that the hospital levy would increase due to the increased l use being made -of the hospital. Costs in maintaining the hospital had considerably increased. He referred to the fact that the Hauraki Plains county paid also onethird of the levy made by the Thames Hospital Board on local bodies. Most Unjust Taxation Cr. D. G. McMillan said he appreciated that the hospital levy on lands was a a most unjust taxation. He said he viewed with alarm the everincreasing hospital levy. Stabilisation had gone by the board and yet the farmer’s price for his product was pegged. Costs would increase in the future and the farmer would not receive an increase to meet this. The Social Security Act was mainly to blame for the ever-increasing cost. He said he knew of fit men living on Social Security. If they earned over a ■certain amount they lost their Social {Security so they knocked off working and lived within Social Security. More people were being sent to hospital by doctors and this was causing costs of maintenance to rise. The present system was most unjust and landowners were being asked to pay often when their income was not large. A man with property earning only £lOO would be called upon to pay hospital levy while a worker in the town, did not pay. iFunds for hospital maintenance should come from income tax .then all would pay equally. Cr. W. H. Cheale said the time for talking had passed and action was necessary. Other sections of the community had taken direct action and the farmers would have to follow their example. The time had come for a definite stand. ■Cr. C. W. .Schultz said he was in •favour of making a definite stand.

His reason was that stabilisation was supposted to be in force (but it seemed for only one section of the community. A hospital (board could increase its levy on the farmers without the farmers having a chance to protest or any protection from stabilisation. The acting-chairman, Mr J. F. Mayn, assured the deputation that they had the sympathy of the council and that the council would register a strong protest whenever and wherever possible against the incidence of hospital taxation.

A resolution that the chairman 'be asked- to support at the counties conference any move for the abolition or reduction of hospital levies was carried.