HOSPITAL LEVIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22833, 14 September 1937, Page 12

HOSPITAL LEVIES

POPULATION BASIS URGED THE MINISTER DISAPPROVES [by telegraph—own correspondent] TAURANG-A, Monday The Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, has replied to the Tauranga County Council's expression of view that hospital board levies upon local authorities should not bo apportioned solely on tho basis of capital valuations and that population should be also used as a basis.

"1 regret to have to advise that I cannot support that view," writes the Minister "The amount levied upon local authorities by the hospital board represents the net financial requirements or tho board after taking into account the subsidy from: the Consolidated Fund (i.e., contributions out of general taxation) and after taking into account payments by individuals in respect of relief afforded. It appears reasonable and proper, therefore, that thcsQ net requirements should be found from Ideal taxation upon wealth. The valuation of rateable property appears to be the best available measure of wealth for the purpose of local taxation. The adaption of population even as a partial basis for the apportionment of levies does not appear justifiable in principle and, in fact, it can be shown that it would produce considerable anomalies in hospital rating in certain hospital districts. " With regard to the matter of native-owned lands on which rates arc not being collected, it is recognised that a difficulty exists. However, it is desired to draw attention to section 104 of the Hating Act, which enables such land to be removed from the rate book and accordingly from valuations on which levies are apportionable."