MAORIS’ HOSPITAL FEES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5124, 11 May 1927, Page 2

MAORIS’ HOSPITAL FEES.

DIFFICULTY OF COLLECTION. A BURDEN ON RATEPAYERS. The collection of hospital and charitable aid board fees from Maoris has for a. long time caused boards considerable concern. The matter has exercised the minds of members of the Thames Hospital Board on previous occasions, and at the meeting held on Monday last a letter was received from the Waikato board, Hamilton, asking for the support of representatives to the Government for relief towards the cost of hospital treatment and charitable- relief to Maoris.

It was pointed out that out of the present total native population of 63,000, about 45,000 resided in the Auckland province, 11,000 of whom were in the Waikato board’s district. The small percentage of collectable native fees and rates placed an undue burden on ratepayers, who were required to pay a corresponding increase in rates to meet the hospital levy. A number of the contributing local authorities in the Waikato hospital district were- practically compelled to assess the amount to meet the hospital levy on the European rateable values only. The board submitted that the cost of hospital treatment and charitable ai,d to Maoris should be- placed on a Dominion basis, and if, at the present time, the whole cost could not be borne by the Government, then at least a substantial grant proportionate to the number of Maoris resident within each hospital district should be made to hospital boards.

Mr C. W. Kennedy said that Hie agreed entirely with the request. The collection of native fees was the- hospital boards’ hardy annual. On the motion of the chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) it was resolved to give the Waikato board all possible support,