HOSPITAL RATING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1929, Page 2

HOSPITAL RATING

PRESENT BASTS INEQUITABLE. MINISTER FAVOURS A CHANGE. WELLINGTON, -April 9. An assurance that lie recognises the necessity for ovolving a better system of hospital rating, and that personally he will leave no stone unturned to give statutory effect to a Fairer basis of taxation should a system lie found which is in the interests of all local authorities was given by the Minister of Health to-day to a deputation representing the majority of the counties in the South Island. The deputation was the outcome of a recent conference of South Island county council representatives, which passed a resolution that the Government should be urged to alter the basis of hospital levies from the present valuation basis to one-half on the capital value and one-half on population. The speakers were introduced by Mr D. Jones, M.P. The chairman of the Ashburton County (Mr J. Carr) said the counties s had always felt they paid excessively in hospital levies as compared with the boroughs. Hospital statistics showed that the burden of levies on local bodies had increased from £280,OpO in 1916 to £626,000 in 1928-29. The levy, per head of the population in the cities, boroughs, and town districts, was 7s 7d, while in the counties it was 12s. The conference had been unanimous that the difference per head was too great. Mr Carr quoted the ease of Ashburton County, where lie said the contribution was £l4 os lOd for each patient, while the borough and town district contribution was £1 16s Bd. If the basis were altered in accordance with the resolution of the conference the levy on counties would be reduced by Is 4d per head, and that in cities and boroughs would be increased by Is per head, while a measure of relief would be given to farmers, and .the basis would be more equitable. The Ashburton County contribution, said the speaker, was 16s 2d per head, while those of the Borough Council and the Timvald Town Board wore 2s and 8s 2id respectively. Many farmers were not making working men’s wages and it was on behalf of them that the deputation was seeking relief. The Minister (Mr A. J- Stallworthy) : But that does not apply generally to tiie farming community in the South Island. Tho speaker said there were many such instance where hardship was inflicted.. Tho Minister: Of course, a man with a small equity in his farm and a heavy mortgage is more likely to ho sick at times.—(Laughter.) Mr.-W. T. Lindsay, representing the Waipara County, said the levy per head in his county was 12s, while in Christchurch it was about 4s per bead. The means of making the people healthy should be a tax on the whole community and not on one section. Mr E. Bowmar (Southland) said that undoubtedly tho hospitals were insepai’ably connected with the cities, and in view of that special advantage to city residents it was not, fair that the country people should bear a special burden by way of contributions. Outlining tho department’s view- . point at the request of the Minister, Mr Begg, inspecting accountant for tho department, said that tho late Minister of Health had made the valuable suggestion that a combined con-, ferenoe should ho called of borough and country representatives with a view to discussing the question, and the Minister had been prepared to . consider favourably any mutual pioposal the conference might suggest. Mr Begg said that he, personally, could see no better way out of the problem. Replying to the deputation, the Ministor said he was aware that the rating basis was a serious factor in the life of the Dominion. He appreciated the case submitted by tho deputation, but he would have to analyse tho position further. They would not lie satisfied until they got a more equitable basis of rating. He did not think any officer of the department had ever claimed that the present system was perfect, though it might he said it was the best for which it had been possible to gain acceptance. “If I am given time as Minister of Health,” said Mr Stallworthy, “the most serious consideration will he given to your representations, and a serious effort will bo made to bring about a better basis for our hospital finances. Just how it is going he done I am not prepared to say. There is a conflict Of opinion, even amongst local bodies, in tho matter. I cannot say exactly when, any earnest effort will bo made to finalise the matter. The Government has been only a short time in office and has a tremendous programme ahead of it, hut I am satisfied that it is absolutely "imperative that we should evolve the best system we can. Personally, I can give you this assurance—that immediately wo can arrive at a system that is in the interests of all tho local bodies or that provides a juster basis than tho present one, I will leave no stone unturned to see that it becomes the statutory basis in this Dominion. I am perfectly satisfied that we need have no fear at all that any serious cry of town versus country will he raised to impede our arriving at a fairer basis.” Mr Stallwortliy added that if a scheme was brought down he thought it would ho a course for it fo no submitted to a conference of local bodies before being adopted, .. '