COUNCIL ALARMED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3264, 17 May 1943, Page 5

COUNCIL ALARMED

HOSPITAL LEVY INCREASE LETTER TO THE BOROUGH RATINdSsHOULD BE ON INCOME Alarm at the increase in the levy made by the Thames Hospital Board on local authorities in the Thames Hospital District was expressed in a letter from the Thames County Council received at Thursday night’s meeting of the Paeroa Borough ’Council. The clerk of the Thames County Council wrote as under: — “My council at its last meeting had under consideration the subject of hospital rating and expressed alarm at the growing increase in levies recently made on the council. In 1934 the levy was £690 12s Od and in 1942 the amount levied was £1595 16s Od. “In this hospital district a large programme of alterations and additions to the hospital buildings is. contemplated at an estimated case far beyond the resources of the contributing local authorities.

“My council is of opinion:— “(1) That the" Government should undertake the liability of all capital costs.

“(2) That the bed subsidy of 6s per day should be increased. “(3) That the after-care of soldiers should be a charge on the War Expenses Account, and “(4) That hospital rating based on income, salaries and wages should replace the present unfair incidence of capital value! “My council respectfully suggests that your council gives the incidence of hospital taxation its full consideration in view of the large contemplated capital expenditure insisted upon by the Minister of Health in this district. My council will be glad to learn the attitude of your council in this matter. The Mayor, Mr Edwin Edwards, in moving that the letter be received explained that the Paeroa Borough Council had already forwarded a protest on this matter to the proper quarters.