HOSPITAL LEVIES

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1751, 27 July 1936, Page 4

HOSPITAL LEVIES

RATEPAYERS’ HEAVY BURDEN Matamata County Discussion Dissatisfaction with the basing of hospital board levies on capital values and with the poor collection of fees by the Waikato Hospital Board was expressed by the Matamata 'County iCouncil on Thursday, when a request for support of v. movement to ease the burden placed upon local authorities by hospital levies was received from the Petonq Borough Council, which asked support for the following resolution: —

“ That the incidence of hospital Aboard administration costs be reviewed as an urgent matter in the direction of relieving ratepayers from part or a whole of the burden arising from these costs, and that the Municipal Association be urged to make representation on the matter to the Government.”

After discussion, the council decided to support the movement sponsored by the Petone Borough Council.

The clerk stated that the Matapiata county’s portion of the Waikato Hospital Board’s levy for 193637 was £2803 Is 3d, an increase of £250 over last year. The estimated total receipts of the board for the year were £89,175, as against £79,496 last year. The fees collected, £27,100, were a little under onethird of the amount annually required. Cr. P. Dee thought the hospital costs would ever increase.

Other councillors agreed that the computation of the levy on capital value was an objectionable and unjust practice. Cr. G. A. Pearce thought a national health insurance scheme would ease the burden on the contributing local bodies. Cr. P. R. Hawke suggested that the ability of a person to pay fees should be decided by a magistrate—not by hospital officials. Cr. K. S. Cox stated that a large proportion of patients treated benefited under insurance policies, but the fees were not collected against this. It was unfair that these fees should be borne by the ratepayers, and the Act should be so altered that payment could be collected from policies. He moved that the suggestion be adopted as a recommendation to the Government.

Cr, Hawke supported the motion. He objected to being rated on capital value to pay the fees in these cases. The motion was carried. PAYING FOR HOSPITALS Piako Supports a Change “ This has been a hardy annual that has come before the counties’ conference for years,” said the chairman of the Piako County Council, Cr. W. C. Kennedy, when the council received a circular letter from the Petone Borough Council asking for support for a proposal that hospital rates be struck according to population as well as capital value of contributing local bodies. Counties were rated on the capital value, with the result that they had to pay more than thickly-populated urban areas, explained the chairman. Another point was that hospital boards were able to collect more fees from rural residents than from town residents, a large proportion of whom were wage-earners. The chairman added that at Morrinsville the previous week Cr. Stark had explained the inequality of hospital rating to the Minister of Internal Affairs. The council resolved to support the proposed amendment to the basis of contributions.