WAITOMO COUNTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 11

WAITOMO COUNTY

HOSPITAL LEVY BASIS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN'S CRITICISM ("BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] TTC KUITI, Saturday "The valuation is a ridiculous thing on which to assess hospital and charitable aid levies," said Mr. W. A. Lee, chairman of the Waitomo County Council, at a meeting yesterday. He commented that though the population of the Te Kuiti Borough and the Waitomo County were about equal the borough paid £445 as hospital levy and the county £2021. The position was made more inequitable by reason of local bodies in this district being unable to collect native rates. The council decided to support the Petone Borough Council in its move to have the incidence of hospital rating altered with the view of relieving ratepayers of part or the whole of the cost. The 40-hour week with pay on the basis of 17s a day for surfacemen was adopted bv the council. The new conditions will operate as from Monday. Previously the men worked a 47-hour week for' £.'s 19s and will now receive an increase of 6s a week. Surfacemen are to be told they must work the full 40 hours. Time off for wet weather will not he permitted as previously. Disappointment was expressed that the Main Highways Board would not contribute to the formation of a stock route to divert stock from the main highway through Piopio. When the resolution confirming the general and hospital rates was carried the chairman said this year the council was taking advantage of its riding credit balances. In future the rates probably will have to be raised.