HOSPITAL LEVIES

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19945, 23 July 1936, Page 9

HOSPITAL LEVIES

discussion by council. INCREASE OF £436. burden on boroughs? Advice’ was received from the Waikato Hospital Board at the fortnightly meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last evening that the council’s apportionment of the Hospital levy would he £4165 7s Bd. It was pointed out that last year the levy was £3729 and that £’*loo had been provided in the estimates this year. A letter was received from the Petone Borough Council stating that in view of the ever increasing burden that was being placed upon boroughs and counties through. Hospital Board le'vies, there was growing opinion that the time had come when the incidence of the maintenance of Hospital and charitable Aid Boards should be altered. The matter was considered by the Petone Council and concern was expressed at the extraordinary Increase in this year’s le'vy and the certainty of the further large increases In the future. The following resolution was carried: —“That, the incidence of the costs of Hospital Board administration should be reviewed as an urgent matter, in the direction of relieving ratepayers from part or the whole' of the burden, arising from such costs, and the Municipal Association be urged to make representations on the above subject to the Government.” The le’tter concluded by asking that boroughs and counties should give the resolution their consideration. In moving that the letter be received the Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow, said that he did not think that much good could be derived by the contemplated action. The hospitais had to be conducted and the finance had to he found. If it was not found in one way it would be found in another form of taxation and the Hamilton Borough had no particular reason to decry the present system. Investigation Necessary. Mr 11. D. Caro was of Ihe opinion that an investigation should he made, ns next year the levy might rise to £6OOO and he thought some limit should be placed on it. The levy, he added, should he' based on some substantial basis, such as population. In pointing out that the levy was was based on valuation Mr .T. E. Tldd contended that Ihe borough was ) fortunate In that Ihe rateable value | per had nf population in Ihe towns j was considerably less than that in the j -country. Other councillors thought that the letter should he received, but were of the opinion that some better system of colle'ction was desirable. Mr 0. l.afTcrfv thought that the Government should'take over the control of all the 'hospitals and Ifnance them from the 'Consolidated fund, while Mr A. J. Benz said that a levy on the valuation I affected the ratepayers much more than the residents as a whole, as only about one-third of the town’s population were ratepayers. In supporting the motion Mr W. W. Dijlicar said he anticipated the Government would later take over the whole of the question of public health of the people in New Zealand and con- I duct the hospitals themselves. Itj was eventually decided to take no j getion. j -i