HOSPITAL RATING TANGLE

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1946, Page 7

HOSPITAL RATING TANGLE

COUNTY COUNCIL'S MOVE EARLY CONFERENCE SUPPORTED It Avill bring things to a head if we accord our support to this plan, and 1 move that we agree to calling a conference of counties as suggested by the Waitemata County Council and that our delegate be given authority to support ■ the other proposals," said Cr. P. V. Koehler at a meeting. of the Kairanga County Council in Palmerston North yesterday, vvhen discusisng a letter from the Waitemata County Council calling for urgent support of its planned conference of counties. The letter stated that at the conference held in July last the following resolution was passed: "That in the event of the counties not being given considerabie relief from hospital rates as a result of the Parliamentary Committ.ee 's report, there be an immediate meeting of county council representatives to deeide what action shouid be taken. ' ' ' ' Although the Parliamentary Conimittee has made tlie recommendatiou that some relief must be provided toi ratepayers, they have not yet been approved by the Government," the letter continued. "Neither can we ascertaxn its intention in this vital matter. The ourden of direct hospital taxation upon ratepayers, especially rural ratepayers, is becoming intolerable, and unless something is done immediately to ascertain the views of the Government upon uie implementation of the committee's recommendatiou, county councils xvill oe forced into iinding large suius out of their ratepayers' pockets to jinance hospital • expenditure. "This council is iirmly of tlie opinion that the executive of the association has failed in its duty in not convening a meeting in complianee with the terms of the above resolution to consider what action shouid be takou to obtain relief i'rom the crushiug burden of hospital levies. In view of Hie fact that county councils in the very near future will have to prepare their estimates for the present linancial year, this council urges all county councils to co-oporate and demaud that a conference be called immediately — not in June as has been suggested by the executive." "We must support this conference and ask that it take place before the ond of next montli," commented Cr. N. P. Nielsen. "It must take place as soon as possible as our estimates must be readv in June." After' furtlier discussion in which no dissentient voice was heard, it was decided that the Council shouid support ihe proposal of the Waitemata Council, by asking that the conference be called before the eud of May, and that the council 's delegate be given authority to support the second and tliird jiroposals.