Mangonui Asks That Valuer-General Postpone Action

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1945, Page 11

Mangonui Asks That Valuer-General Postpone Action

(Special) KAITAIA, This Day Following its action at its last meet*ing in striking a hospital rate of 2:ld. in the £, the Mangonui County Council yesterday received the followtelegraphic advice from the Minister for Health (Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer): “In reference to your Tetter of Dehis reply of December 1G (not yet received by the Council) I have'to advise you that in October Ministerial direction had been given pursuant to section 59 of the Hospitals and. Charitr able Institutions Act, and the ValuerGeneral is proceeding to raise, by means of a rate over the county, the amount of the contribution payable to the hospital board in place of the estimated cost of making and collecting the rate. “Legal opinion is that the ValuerGeneral is obliged to proceed to raise (he full amount, notwithstanding the attitude of the council and its present intention to strike a rate to cover part only of the contribution. “It appears, therefore, that if the council, at this stage, attempts to strike a rate for hospital purposes, it will be inolving its ratepayers in still further needless expenditure.”

COUNCIL’S REPLY The following reply has been forwarded from the council: “In acknotV" ledging your telegram, my Council advises that it gave notice of its intention to strike a hospital rate prior to learning of he action of the ValuerGeneral, and further requests that you postpone further action by the Valuer-General to enable you to consider fully the council’s action.” In addition, a letter from Mr Nordmeyer was before the council, replying to the council’s expression of dissatisfaction that the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions’ Act had been invoked prior to consideration of the Local Bodies Select Committee’s report by Parliament. Mr Nordmeyer stated: “I note that your council expresses disappointment at the action of the Government in taking powers to ensure that the law will be observed. The rate to be struck by the Valuer-General of 6|d in the £1 will raise from European and native land in Mangonui County, it is estimated, the sum of £9537. The contribution payable by the county to the Mangonui Hospital Board is £ 8337, and allowance is made for an additional £I2OO. which is apparently the estimated cost of collecting the rate.” At its December' meeting, the council gave notice of its intention to strike a rate of 2.{d in the £l, based on the Parliamentary Local Bodies report over the average rating for 1935-39. It was estimated that this, would produce £3346.

Tomorrow the council will hold a special meeting, at which it is anticipated that it will adhere to its original intention of striking this rate, notwithstanding the Government’s action. LETTER FROM MR, T. C. WEBB Also before the council yesterday was a copy of a letter from Mr. T. C. Webb. M.P., forwarded from the hon. secretary, No. 1 (Northland) ward of the Counties’ Association. In this letter Mr. Webb stated that the Prime Minister had indicated that some of the Select Committee’s recommendations would not be supported by his side of the House, or, at any rate, by himself personally, which amounted to the same thing. It did not appear that the Select Committee's recommendations would be considered by the House until the next Session in June, and it was difficult to forecast how much of the recommendations would “fee implemented. The council decided to reply, expressing approval of No. 1 ward executive’s efforts to have the Parliamentary Committee’s recommendations brought before the House. It considered the implications as stated by Mr. Webb should be circularised to all other wards, with the advice that urgent and drastic action appeared necessary.. It was felt that, by withholding the report until Parliament resumed, it would be too late for any rating relief in 1946-47.

DENMARK.—Tho Danish Foreign Minister (M. Rasmussen) revealed rhat ail Allied troops were preparing to leave Denmark. Tho R.A.F. is Clearing up all airfields. No big changes seem to have occurred in Bornholm which the Russians occupied.