HOSPITAL RATES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 58, 27 May 1942, Page 2

HOSPITAL RATES

BOARD SUPPORTS CONFERENCE It was the unanimous opinion of members of the Waikato Hospital Board that the Hospital Board's Association be asked to make arrangements to call a conference cf representatives; of the Class 1 and Class 2 Hospital Boards and the Municipal and Counties Associations to» discuss the incidence of hospital taxation and that they be advisedi that the Board: was of the opinion that the subsidy .payable to hospital beard's by tile Government should be increased, or alternatively the scale cf fees payable from the Social Security Fund for treatment of patients in hospital be increased. While it was the opinion of certain members that a conference would achieve little, it was pointed out by other speakers that unless the various hospital boards spoke as one voice through a conference as suggested they could achieve' nothing. It was felt generally that hospital levies, Ave re exorbitant. It was explained by the chairman Mr 1\ Find lay, that he understood that the object of the association was to endeavour to obtain a two to one subsidy in lieu of the £1 for £1 as at present. Mr N. H. Beatson pointed out thai in the case'of the hospital rate in the Piako County the rates were equal Ij* as much as the amount allocated for the upkeep of the roads and bridges and tlie ratepayers concerned were becoming very restive.