HOSPITAL RATING

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24896, 8 June 1946, Page 8

HOSPITAL RATING

FEDERATED FARMERS’ DISCUSSION Protests against the “heavy and eytf increasing burden” of hospital rating were made at the annual conference yesterday of the North Canterbur- di* trict, Federated Farmers. Reference to the subject was made in the annual report, and in remits from the Sheffield and Amuri branches. “The heavy and increasing burden and the unfair incidence of hospital and charitable aid rates has long been the subject of protest.” stated the report. “There is nothing, morally, to justify the burdening of property owners with this direct tax to pay the hospital services, and the SOO property owners, town and country, unite on this question and insist on tne full cost of these services coming outo* the pockets of all the people, the oct* Speaking to the Amuri remit, Mr I* C. Gardiner said that the costs of running the hospitals should be borne oy everyone in proportion to his means. At present it bore unfairly on some se* tions of the community. In the Amun County, the rate in 1936-37 had be® £2544; in 1945-46, the figure had be® £4446; and in the estimates for 19®’ 47, the figure was £5300. A hopeless position was arising. . „,, .j The president. Mr K. W, J. Hall, » that at the last meeting of the JJ* minion Council, it had been deadea w join a deputation from the Counuj® Association, which was to interview the Government early in July. After further discussion, the folio ’ ing amended remit was carried:--this conference of Federated Fann® protests strongly against the mciaewj of the present system of hospital rat“*» and suggests that the revenue be « rived from the Consolidated Fund. an. that the recommendations of the Government Committee of the nouw be implemented.”