Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1927, Page 2

Tim recur ring question of the incidence of levies for the maintenance of hospitals and charitable institutions has been brought again to the fore. This week a joint deputation of the Counties’ 'Association and Farmers’ Union waited on the Minister of Health seeking a revision of the system of allocation. The basis of allocation at present is the capital rateable value of the rating areas within the respective hospital districts. The demand on behalf of the rural authorities was to the effect that the population should be taken into account in making the allocation on a basis of fifty-fifty—half the required sum being raised on capital value basis, and the other half on the population basis. The occasion for the latter provision was that the towns and cities which have the readiest facilities for benefitting from hospitals. should contribute something more on the average than the remoter settler. The institutions as a rule are in tho centres of population, and in that case the hulk cf the expenditure, also, is for the benefit of the tradespeople in tho town—the country store-keeper has no share in the business provided from the institution. The demands for a change have been more insistent of late, because the cast- of hospitals and charitable institutions, have, in general, gone up very greatly. Costly building and rebuilding schemes have been in hand. involving larger staffs. With the increase in population. more patients are provided, while generally the added cost of living, the shorter hours for the staff, the introduction of costly scientific appliances, all combine to put up tho administrative casts. But the Minister did not hold out much personal hope of the charge asked for being brought to pass. The long basis of capital value had been the law since 1885, and that system yas approved generally by the an-

tliorifies. There had been .some fluctuation in the subsidy system since 1923, and more relief in that direction might be afforded later. But it does not appear that at present the Consolidated Fund could stand any added strain, because generally the Government complain of living .so short- of funds. The representations are to l>e placed before Cabinet, and as the subject is essentially a Cabinet matter, its fate in that direction after the Ministerial pronouncement can he well understood. Tho best- tile rural bodies can hope for, it seems to us. is to seek for and demand more economy in administration so as to lessen the..burden thrown on the ratepayer as much as possible. Any other relief through the levy reform asked for is likely to lit indefinitely postponed.