THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service.” MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1946. LATEST HOSPITAL LEVY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32706, 29 April 1946, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service.” MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1946. LATEST HOSPITAL LEVY

When the present Minister of Health was speaking in support of the social security legislation some years ago he referred to a statement made by a member of the Opposition, that nothing was being done to reduce hospital rating, and said: “I challenge that statement.” Mr. Nordmeyer then made this prediction: “Experience will show definitely that the hospital rate in this country will go down.” There has been sufficient time for that downward movement to become apparent, but the hard facts are that the increased levy on local bodies , in the Thames Hospital Board area this year will show an increase of over 25 per cent., while in other parts of New Zealand even higher increases are reported. Local authorities throughout New Zealand are becoming extremely restless under the burden and more and more is spreading the desire for direct, action. Even those who last year spoke strongly in favour of constitutional means to. secure relief are now, in view .of the Government’s failure to grant relief, becoming impatient and urging that a definite stand be taken. The Select Committee of the House of Representatives, which investigated “all phases of the local government system l of the Dominion,” reported that “there has been a major increase in hospital levies on local authorities, particularly over the past five years,” which had “resulted in an increasing burden on ratepayers.” It was stated, when the social legislation was before Parliament, that the proposed payment of 6/- per bed per day would put the ratepayer in a betteF“position. The. committee found, after a few years of the ne worder, that “the net effect of the Social Security Act is in general not to relieve the ratepayer, of any of his financial responsibility. This is borne out by the increasing levies which have been necessary over the past few years.” The truth of that statement will be borne home to the ratepayers with added emphasis in the near future. , The rosy surmises have proved to be wrong. The burden which was to have ■been made lighter is, in fact, much heavier. There has been no relief, and the time is overdue for some mitigating action. The increases in round figures which the various local authorities in this district will have to find are: Paeroa Borough £378 additional; Thames County £475; Ohinemuri County £646; Thames Borough £438; Hauraki Plains County £1414; Waihi Borough £289; Coromandel County £492. A grand total of £4132 extra to be found by ratepayers in Hie Thames Hospital Board district.