HOSPITAL RATING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 19, 2 September 1946, Page 5

HOSPITAL RATING

COUNTY LEVY HALVED CHAIRMAN’S REPORT In accordance with a recent •decision of Cabinet, the Whakatane County Council has received intimation to the effect that a special grant of £1,500 had been made available to offset the Hospital rate for the current year. The payment of the grant, it was stated by the Department of Health was conditional on the County paying the full balance of 'its contribution to the Hospital Board.

The chairman, (Mr J. L. Burnett) outlined the deliberations of the Counties’ Conference at Wellington with regard to the rate. He mentioned first that in accordance with the Budget' announcement the rate in future had been pegged at 5d in the £ and this would mean a saving to aIT Counties in New Zealand with the exception of four—which included Opotiki and Buller. It meant as far as Whakatane was concerned that the existing rate would be halved. At the same time he pointed out that the concession, while it was most welcome, did not go as far as the recommendations of the Parliamentary Select Committee suggested. The pegging of the rate at the average over four years proceeding the war (1936-39) would mean a rate of .315 d. As a comparative illustration he said that the rates from all Counties under the new Government figure would realise a total of £650,000 annually. Under the figure recommended by the Committee the total revenue would have been £390,000, or a matter of £260,000 less.

The Counties’ Association was definitely of the opinion that it was not receiving the relief it was entitled to and in the interview with the Prime Minister (in which incidentally he said that Parliamentary history was made) the Government was given to understand that any •concession was regarded as merely an instalment towards the total abolition of the rate. The Counties deputation, of which he had been honoured as one of the speakers, had emphasised the need to give greater relief along the Select Committee’s suggestions and also that some measure of relief be given •during the present year.

The Prime Minister had been very sympathetic and had conceded the urgent need for relief. He did not however favour lifting the rate altogether, as it had been imposed by the Ward Government, many years before the Labour regime. However he would recommend Cabinet that something be done to assist contri buting authorities this year. Mr Burnett said that the conference had this year achieved something it had never achieved before. Its representations had resulted in the Government admitting that the farmers had. a case and promising to give relief.

Cr McCracken pointed out that although the cut in the rate would be very considerable, there was the pressing question of revaluation. For over ten years now there had been no revaluations made and before long he was afraid the County was in for a rude shock. Even with the rate at .sd, if the valuation went up the rate would still be a considerable burden.

The chairman replied that this point had not been lost sight of at the Conference, but it was felt that having gained one concession from the Government, the next difficulty ■should not be tackled until it cropped up. On Cr McCracken’s motion it was decided to strongly support the Counties’ Association in its representations to the Government for relief of Hospital Taxation.