HOSPITAL COMMISSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16411, 27 April 1921, Page 8

HOSPITAL COMMISSION.

DUNEDIN SITTING. [Pm Press Association.! DUNEDIN, April 27. The Hospitals Commission resumed its sittings this morning. Evidence was given by Mr IT. A. Rodgers, Tuapeka County, who thought that the present system of levies and subsidies providing for maintenance was inequitable. Levies were made on wealth as disclosed by the valuation roll, when u ratepayer might only be a tenant and only nominally nn ownei. Wealth could not be fairly estimated from the valuation rolls. The only way to attack the real owner of wealth was through the channels of land and income tax. He thought that the Hospital Boards with base hospitals should receive .greater consideration in the matter of subsidies than boards who depended on special departments in base hospitals in another district. The most equitable solution of the whole of hospital administration waa nationalisation of the Public Health Department in all branches. He did not think that nationalisation wouM affect administration and was satisfied that there would he no trouble in getting qualified and experienced men and women only too willing to continue the work now being done so freely and well. He favoured a system of differential rating for contributing local bodies, eo that they would be levied pro rnta according to the benefits received.