Suggested Change bt Basis Of Hospital Rating

Chronicle (Levin), 10 November 1949, Page 4

Suggested Change bt Basis Of Hospital Rating

Baslng rea^onlng on the fact that hospitals were used by persons rather than by either land or capital, the Upper Hutt Borough Council is circularising local bodies seeking support for its claim that hospital rating should be levied 'on a population basis rather than pn land or capital values. The chairman of the Horowhenua County Council, Mr. A. M. Colquhoun, commenting on the circular at the monthly " meeting of the council yesteiday, said that the move was not a new one. It had been discussed over the years by the Municipal Association and the Counties" Association, but no conclusions had ever been arrived at. There was not really so much. in it as there might appear on the surfaee, and he suggested that the circular be referred lo the coming conference of Ward Four County Councils. In any case, he added, that going by the figures supplied the alternative scheme would only mean a reduction of £6183 on the Wellington Hospital Board's levy of £163,075. After further discussion the council decided to take no action. This question was also discussed by the Levin Borough Council on Monday night, councillors then stating that they would like to have more time to consider the new proposal. In its letter the Upper Hutt Borough Council stated that it had caussd it much concern to obserye how the apportionment of hospital board rates bore unequally on different municipalities and counties under the present assessment on capital value. The council, having . endorsed the prosposal of the Mayor that hospital rating should be assessed on a population basis rather than on either a land or capital value basis, had given instructions for the Horowhenua Council to be communicated with • and supplied with a elas'sification of the loca-1 authorities under the Wellington Board's area. This classification would show how the present rafces were apportioned on a population basis. The local council was asked to give it consideration and if possible to make some coniment. The letter then stated that the council feit that hospitals were used by persons rather than by either land or capital. A fairer and more equitable system would be to coii'tribute towards hospital boards according to the population in each separate local authority's area. Under the present system two local bodies, each with the same population, but one comparatively rural and the other highly developed, the difference between the contributions would be substantial, the one paying more than it justifiably should. The other would be paying less than it should when considered from a hospital usage basis. Basing the contribution to the hospital board on a population basis would also overcome the anomaly which municipal conferences had been so concerned about, especially last year When revaluations took place and one authority's contribution would be doubled and that of another in the same area remain the same. The Upper Hutt Borough Council further requested that the local council give serious consideration to the proposal, with a view lo bringing down a remit for the next conference which, if carried unanimously, would, it was thought, be given Government approval.