Labour Attitude To Hospital Rating

Northern Advocate, 26 June 1946, Page 4

Labour Attitude To Hospital Rating

“The Government set up a Select Parliamentary Committee to inquire into and report upon all phases of the local government system of the Dominion. including questions of finance, hospital rating and the general structure of the system.” writes a correspondent signing himself "Impatient.” “This committee was composed of many able and experienced men, a majority of whom were Government members, and included the Minister ot Internal Affairs.

“The committee made exhaustive inquiries and took very considerable and complete evidence throughout the Dominion. Its findings and recommendations set out with clarity the basic principles upon which its recommendations were founded. “For the past six weeks every endeavour was made for a combined deputation representing the Municipal Association of New Zealand and the New Zealand Counties' Association to interview the Prime Minister asking for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the Parliamentary commilte dealing with hospital rating.

ORDERS FROM CONFERENCE? “It was not until a few days ago. and after the Labour Conference in Wellington, that the Prime Minister consented to receive the deputation. Reading between the lines of the Press report of the interview, it looks pretty evident that the Labour Conference gave the Prime Minister his sailing instructions, and the Government understood that the Labour Conference would not countenance any alteration in the incidence of taxation for hospital purposes. The Prime Minister informed the deputation: ‘People who undertook responsibility in respect of land should not be relieved of that to their own personal gain at the expense of the community.’ EQUITABLE BASIS

“It might be suggested to the Prime Minister that the ratepayers do not desire to escape their just liabilities. What they do ask is that taxation for hospital purposes should be spread on an equitable basis over all the people. This point has been emphasised by the Parliamentary Committee in its report: “Hospital facilities are a function of population and not a function of capital value.

“The Prime Minister states that hospital patients cannot be allowed to suffer. In that we all agree, and the Parliamentary Committee in its report makes the observation: ‘We do not wish it to be thought that we think there should be any restriction on necessary hospitalisation. It is important for the health of the community that adequate hospital facilities should be available, but the State must bear much of the responsibility from a national fund.’

TO REMOVE INJUSTICE

“Mr Fraser made the point that ‘they could not have mob rule —even if it were local body rule.' History may repeat itself and ratepayers suffering under something that is oppression, may be forced to take action to remove that injustice. It seems under the present regime to be the accepted method of securing reform—good or bad. It certainly would not be establishing a precedent. “It will be interesting to see whether the Parliamentary Committee’s report and recommendations are dealt with during the present session; also whether the Government members who served on the Select Committee will be game (or allowed) an opportunity to support their own findings and recommendations. If not, what?”