HOSPITAL RATING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6138, 19 September 1945, Page 5

HOSPITAL RATING

INCIDENCE DISCUSSED UNIFIED ACTION DESIRABLE The incidence of hospital rating was discussed by delegates at the Southern Thames Sub-provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union, the subject beingintroduced by Springdale and Elstow branches which urged unified action in Piako County to remove a rate which was considered unjust. Farmers’ Union branches throughout the county should unite to a common end, according to Mr E. Palliser, who said that Springdale looked upon the problem as a county, rather than a ridingone. A general move .was necessary. The chairman, Mr W. A. Rushton, stated that hospital derating- had been a live issue in some ridings at the last local body elections.- He recalled that he had followed the lead given by his ratepayers, and stated that there were eight councillors on the Piako County Council, seven of whom had been returned to strike the rate. It had been struck. Mr Rushton explained that if the rate had not been struck subsidies which the county received would have been diverted to cover the council’s liability to the Hospital Board and the ratepayer was no better off. His ratepayers had been, told what would happen if the rate was not struck, and he had acted upon their instructions. If the Farmers’ Union desired to push matters it should contact all ratepayers and make them fully alive to the position. In his opinion, the County Cquncil had been fully justified in striking the rate. The Waitoa riding had been fought on that issue.

Mr F. E. Harris deplored the manner in which the Farmers’ Union had taken action at the last local body elections. All councillors knew that by refusing to strike the rate they would lose about £lO,OOO in road subsidies. It was no good “picking” on one or two councillors. To organise thoroughly and place the matter on a proper basis would take 12 months. Mr Rushton: If you want the- roads kept up the rate must be struck. If the Council does not get £lO,OOO subsidy for roads, it will have to strike another rate of one penny for roading, which means that the ratepayers will not escape anything.

Continuing, Mr Rushton suggested that a start should be made by calling together all the ratepayers in each riding: and explaining the whole position. Some had the idea that they were going- to save a penny in the pound, which was quite wrong. Voicing his agreement with the chairman, Mr J. W. Attwood stated that the ratepayers would have to be informed of any alternative method of payment. The Farmers’ Union should have “gone” the politicians who were paid to do the job, instead of whom were doing good work for nothing. “If the Farmers’ Union tackled the politicians in the same manner that they tackled county councillors it is no wonder they go nowhere,” observed Mr Harris when the secretary, Mr A. E. Robinson, stated that nothing had been done when the politicians had been approached in 1934. “It is the ratepayer who has got to carry the ‘baby,’ and not the councillors,” he said. “The ratepayers should instruct 4heir representatives.” The meeting agreed that unified action was desirable, and resolved that an effort be made to have hospital derating incorporated in the platform of one of the political parties before the next election.