PRIME MINISTER STANDS FIRM

Chronicle (Levin), 23 August 1946, Page 7

PRIME MINISTER STANDS FIRM

Tbe conferenee unanimously adopted a motion that tbe Government be urged to proceed with the early implementa* tion of the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government in general and with hospital rating in particuiar. An immediate request was made to Mr. Fraser and Mr. Nordmeyer to hear this request and when they arrived in the late afternoon the case for the counties was outlined by Mr. Belton. Tlite Prime Minister said there were two widely divergent ooints of view in

parliament on nospitai ratmg ana n was for the country to decide which it would favour. There were ouly four hospital districts that would not receive a benefit from the establishment oi' the maximum of Jd in the pound. No government would agree that it should of necessity accept the recommeudations of a Parliamentary Committee. It was for the Government itself to make decisions on policy. He wouLt report to Cabinet that the Association thought the i-elief granted was inadequate. He could not, however, holu out any hope for the abolition of rating for hospitals. The expansion oi the hospital system had been enormous. A case had bee-/ made out for a good deal of burdei, being taken over nationally but there was not a case, in' his opinion, for' local responsihility being swept away altogether. Cabinet would examine the proposai that the maximum of 4d in the pound sliould be introduced in the citrrent year instead. of next hut he would oniy he deceiving the conferenee if he said that there was any prospect of the Government changing its general policy on hospital rating. It would have to stand this year and the position could he examined later. The conferenee then adjourued and will resume tomorrow.