HOSPITAL LEVIES

Waipa Post, Volume 36, Issue 2144, 14 April 1928, Page 4

HOSPITAL LEVIES

NON-PAYMENT BY NATIVES. BOARD’S EMPHATIC PROTEST. (By Telegraph—Pppss Association). HAMILTON, Friday. Recognition of the hardships. that European ratepayers in the Waikato hospital district are bearing through being levied with native rates in addition to their own was made by members at the annual meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board yesterday. The Department of Health wrote pointing out the provisions of the amendment to the Rating Act enabling the value of native land on which rates are not collectable to be deducted from the ratable capital value of the land upon which levies are made. It was stated that this should be of some assistance to hospital boards in whose districts there were large areas of native land upon whievh rates were uncollectable.

Several members spoke feelingly on •the matter, pointing out that one-fifth of the Maori population of New Zealand was in the Waikato Hospital Board’s district.

Reference was madei to the heavy burden that European settlers at Kawhia were bearing. It was decided to reply to the Minister that the Department's reply was most unsatisfactory, as it afforded no relief to European ratepayers.

At the last meeting of the Waikato Hospital Board the Department of Health enclosed accounts for expenses incurred in the removal of natives for hospital treatment, which it expected the Board to pay. A reply was sent informing the Department that in viejw of the negligible amount of rates paid by natives the Board could not accept the liability of the expenditure incurred.