HOSPITAL LEVY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 11, 15 May 1939, Page 5

HOSPITAL LEVY

CRITICISM BY COUNTY BOARDS SHOULD RECOVER MORE FEES

A resolution favouring more active steps by hospital boards to recover outstanding fees was passed by the Whakatane County Council when it was considering the year's estimates at a special meeting on Friday. A sum of £4328 lis lid is to be found by county ratepayers this year as compared with £3005 Ss lid last year, and Cr IT. C. McCready said he thought that hospital boards should act with mor c firmness than in. the past. Men who got good wages and were well able to pay did not pay. If a man had hard luck and could not pay the boards could use their discretion, but people who were able to pay should be made to do so. The chairman, Cr J. G. Cliff McCnlloch; agreed with this view as did other councillors. Cr MeGulloclv said that in his opinion the Social Security payments would not improve the position. The hospitals would get an allowance for each bed, but expenditure would be greater. Cr J. L. Burnett said that the ratepayers were complaining that they Mere charged through the social security tax and that they also had to pay a hospital rate. The ordinary man in the street was not paying a rate. Cr McCulloch said the Counties Association in Wellington had discussed the matter. It was necessary for all counties to reach .m agreement. The association should take a stronger stand than <t does, Cr Burnett. The matter was getting out of hand.