HOSPITAL LEVIES
WELLINGTON, June 22. The case of the New Zealand Counties’ Association and the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in support of a request for a more equitable system of hospital levies upon counties and boroughs was presented to the .Minister for Health to-day by a joint deputation from those organisations.
Air A. E. dull, representing the Counties’ Association, said the basis upon which the State made ils levy was inequitable, and no more juggling of the proportion of subsidy payable in respect to counties whose rates were high and those whose rates were low would overcome the fundamental objections of the counties, who contended that population, as well as valuation, should be taken into account as factors. He quoted figures to show that the position was that two-fifths of the population under the present system was paying three-fifths of the contribution. They submitted that one-half of the levy should he based upon the population and the other half upon the valuation. Air W. Alorrison, representing the Farmers’ Union, said that his organisation contended that the levy should he based on a consideration of capitalised incomes. The system, he said, was not even equitable as between county and county.
Replying to the deputation, the .Minister (Air Young) pointed out that the levy on the, basis of capital values had been the law since 1855, and that the subsidy rate for different counties bad fluctuated since 102:1. The House of Representatives, tho Hospital Boards’ Association, the Commissioner of Taxes, and others had all declared against deviation from the principle of the present rating system. They must not lose sight of ITie principle that payment should he according to wealth, hut it was necessary and expedient to deviate from that from time to time. Air A'oitng said he would lay the suggestions of the deputation before Cabinet for careful consideration. lie appreciated the difficulty in regard to collecting native
rates, and personally, expressed the opinion that the solution they proposed was on the right lines.
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Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1927, Page 1
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333HOSPITAL LEVIES Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1927, Page 1
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