UPKEEP OF HOSPITALS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 23, 27 January 1934, Page 2

UPKEEP OF HOSPITALS

INCIDENCE OF LOCAL RATE DISCUSSION IN THE SOUTH A motion was carried at the last meeting of the committee of the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral j Association approving of the abolition of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board rate. A letter was received from the New Zealand Crown Tenants’ Association advising tha». the following remit had been passed by that body:—“That the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board rate should be abolished and made a charge on the Consolidated Fund; or, I alternately, on ail persons over 21 rears i of age.” ’ “It seems to m<- that the funds are raised from the wrong sources/’ said ihe chairman, Dr. p. R. Woodhouse. He did not see why the upkeep of the hospitals should be a charge on the land, nor could he see any sound reason why the capital value of a man’s property should be an indication of the amount he was expected to pay in that direction. A man living in a town boarding house was much better treated than a fanner where hospital rates | were concerned. Some time ago it was shown that a man living in the County I

I oi \\ annate had to pay three times as much in such taxation as a man living in the Borough of Timaru. That showed a very unjust method of taxation. In bis opinion, said Mr. Woodhouse, it was sound to make patients pay when they were able to do so. This was, however, only a portion of the money necessary to the hospital, and |it left a big balance still to be met. This was where the principle of insurance w’ould come into the matter. The levy suggested by the remit was practically an insurance policy. To-day an unemployment levy was being paid, and he thought that later when conditions improved sufficiently it would be fairer to use such a levy for the benefit of (the hospitals. Taxation on land was used to-day to provide roads and (bridges in the country, but the position was very different in so far as it related to hospitals. The upkeep of hospitals ought to be met on a population basis, among other sources. There was no reason why the land should be taxed to keep the hospitals. He could not agree with the whole of the remit, but was wholeheartedly in favour of the first portion of it. Mr. P. R. Talbot said that the Farmers’ Union faoured taxation on the {basis of 50 per cent, on population and 150 per cent, on rating. • The motion wajs carried.