HOSPITAL RATING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 4, 26 July 1946, Page 5

HOSPITAL RATING

NO UNITED COUNTY ACTION 'CRITICISM FROM WHAKATANE CURRENT RATE STRUCK The strongest criticism of the N.Z. Counties Association, for its alleged failure to back up the united effort to defy the existing legislation by united action in refusing to levy the Hospital Rate, was voiced by members of the Whakatane County Council last Tuesday when a letter from the Association urged the exercising of further patience and the striking of the present year’s rate. The letter stated that in answer to the'recent deputation from the -Association, the Prime Minister had bluntly stated that the incidence of hospital rating had to be discussed by the House before any announcement of Government policy could be made concerning' the report ■of the Parliamentary Committee. The President of the' Association requested all member counties to take ho independent action without consult ing him on the point. Chairman’s Report Enlarging on the Prime' Minister’s reply, the chairman, Mr J. L. Burnett, said that Mr Fraser was most explicit in his own attitude. He stated that he did not intend relieving the land of rates at the expense of the sick in hospitals. The Hon. W. E. Parry on the other hand appeared to be more sympathetic.. It appeared that the Counties Association by not taking united action this year had missed their remaining opportunity. In . the meantime Monganui was being thrashed and he unthat conditions there had deteriorated badly. By following suit 1 Whakatane would be in a similar position. An impression he had gained at the conference- was that the Government would be only too pleased to see other counties taking an independent line of action as it would give the desired, opportunity of stepping in and taking control. Cr Burt favoured going on overdraft to meet the balance of the rate -still owing. Already he said £6OOO had been paid leaving approximately £SOOO outstanding. This he said should be spared the ratepayers many of whom had had a bad year.

, A .Deliberate Sidestep “It. seems lhat this is a deliberate sidestep,” said Cr McCready. “Twelve months ago in answer to a here, we deferred the levying of the rate. Today we are no-further. What’s the matter with us that.we can’t do anything. Everything the watersiders want they get. The same with the coal miners. Yet the farmers are down 3,oo>ooolbs. butterfat and nobody cares a rap. We sent men overseas to fight Naziism. Why can’t we fight it here? The chairman: What, do you suggest?

Cr McCready: Strike the 1935-39 average rate! The chairman: I agree with a lot you say but I can’t see the use of taking a stand without the support of the other four wards. '

Cr McCready: Then the Counties Association is just as big a joke as ever. I appreciate your attitude Mr Chairman, but it looks as though this is a deliberate effort by the Association to shelve it—and its political. No question about that! Other speakers severely criticised the Association for not taking a firmer stand with the Government. It was, they declared the only organisation whereby County Councils could fight this issue, and yet it had proved practically disinterested. Cr McGougan said that if the Council desired to make a stand he would be with them.

Varied Opinions Cr Leslie: If nothing is done this year, bas the Counties Association any plan for future action? The Chairman: It will be guided by its forthcoming conference. That is all I can report. Cr Leslie: This matter has dragged on enough. Unless something is done, primary industry is done! Cr Cawte: If only we could fight this thing with a reasonable chance of success, I’d be with you a hundred times. Cr Wardlaw: If we strike the 1935 rate, the Government will only recoup itself at our expense from forthcoming subsidies. I’m strongly averse to overdraft, and I can only see one way out—to strike the rate. Figures tabled by the Clerk showed that the average rate for the 1935-39 period would be £3035. For the current year the. rate was £lO,400, of which £5904 had already been paid.

Increase General Rate A motion moved by Cr McCracken was to the effect that in order to keep the Hospital rate down it

should be fixed at lid instead of 2id, and that the general rate should be raised to 3|d plus Id and l-Bd. This would mean an increase in the overall rate of ;jd. After further discussion it was decided to anticipate Hospital rate Government assistance and a reduced Hospital rate at 2id was agreed upon. Other rates were fixed as in previous years. -