HOSPITAL RATES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32704, 24 April 1946, Page 5

HOSPITAL RATES

QUESTION OF RELIEF DELAY BY PARLIAMENT LOCAL BODIES CONCERNED The question of hospital rating and the delay by .Parliament in considering the recommendation made by the Parliamentary Committee which investigated this problem was discussed at the April meeting of the Hauraki Plains County Council.

The Waitemata County Council wrote on the subject as follows:— “At the conference held in July last the following resolution was passed:

“That in the event of the counties not being given considerable relief from hospital rates as a result of the Parliamentary Committee’s report there be an immediate meeting of county council representations to decide what action should be taken.” “Must Be Provided” “Although the Parliamentary Committee has made a recommendation ‘that some relief rpust be provided, to ratepayers,’ they have not yet been approved by the Government. Neither can we ascertain its intention in regard to this vital matter. “The burden of district hospital taxation upon ratepayers especially rural ratepayers, is becoming intolerable and unless something is done immediately to ascertain the views of the Government upon the implementation of the committee’s recommendation, county councils will again be forced into having to find huge sums out of their ratepayers’ pocket to finance hospital expenditure. “My council is firmly of the opinion that the executive of the association has failed in its duty in not convening a meeting in compliance with the terms of the above mentioned resolution to consider what action should be taken to obtain relief from the crushing burden of hospital levies. This council, in view of the fact that county councils will in the very near future have to prepare their estimates for the present financial year, urges all county councils to co-operate and demand that a conference be called immediately— not in'June as has been suggested by the executive. View of Plains Council

“To ascertain your council’s views on the matter of the striking of rates for hospital expenditure, under the present system, I have been instructed to request you to reply to the attached questionaire. The questions were: I, This council is in favour of an immediate conference of county council delegates 2, This council is not in favour of striking rates under the present system 3, This council is in favour of not striking a rate to meet hospital expenditure if no relief is given on the lines indicated by the Parliamentary Committee.” Cr J. W. Neate said something would have to be done soon. He recounted the position into which he said the Thames Hospital Board had) drifted. The council 1 would have a large bill from the Hospital Board- to meet in the very near future. It was decided to support the suggestion that the council favour an immediate conference of county council delegates. OHINEMURI ATTITUDE OPPOSITION TO STRIKING RATE When the above letter from the Waitemata County Council was discussed at the April meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council it was decided to support the immediate calling of a conference. The council was not in favour of striking rates under the present system and also supported the suggestion that the Council was in favour of not striking a rate to meet hospital expenditure if no relief was given on the lines indicated by the Parliamentary' Committee.