HOSPITAL COSTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23115, 13 August 1938, Page 23

HOSPITAL COSTS

ANNUAL INCREASES HIGHER SUBSIDY SOUGHT [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANG AEEI, Friday Concern at the continued annual increase in the yearly contribution by local bodies for hospital maintenance was expressed in a letter considered today by the Whangarei County Council. The Kairanga County Council requested support for the proposal that steps should be taken this session to bring the matter before the Government, requesting a considerable increase in subsidy so that local taxpayers would be partly relieved of this increasing .burden of taxation. A further suggestion put forward in the letter was that a conference of local bodies should be held before the question was brought before the Government. "The burden of hospital taxation will probably increase when the proposed health insurance scheme comes into operation," said Mr. J. A. S. Mackay. "More people will take advantage of hospital treatment, and so the cost to the ratepayers will bo higher." "The rapidly increasing amount of rates required for the hospital levy is a serious concern of this council," said Mr. F. Elliott, when moving that a delegate from the council should attend the- prop9sed conference. The motion was carried.