LOAN OPPOSED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32404, 8 March 1944, Page 5

LOAN OPPOSED

HOSPITAL REBUILDING CONFERENCE OF FARMERS £50,000 NEEDED BY BOARD The proposal y the Thames Hospital Board to apply to the Government Loans Board for authority to raise £50,000 to enlarge, alter or re-equip the Thames Hospital should be opposed by all farmers and farmers’ representatives in the Thames Hospital Board district and particularly in the Thames County was a remit from the Matatoki branch discussed at Tuesday s meeting held in Thames of the Northern Thames Sub-Provincial Executive of the New Zealand

Farmers’ Union. The movers of the remit gave the following reasons for such a step: The present high cost of all building materials and cost and scarcity of suitable labour will increase the l cost tremendously and real value for money expended cannot be secured under these conditions. The already high cost of hospital charges are such that should any additional charges be incurred ratepayers in certain portions of the boardfs territory would be seriously embarrassed. The hospital contribution of the Thames county has risen from £637 -16 s 7d in 1935 to £1394 15s lid in 1943. The Social Security Act was put into operation in 1938' and under this scheme local bodies were promised relief but the opposite has been the effect as £1165 9s 0d was the levy in 1938 rising to £1394 15s lid in 1943. The interest and sinking fund on the proposed loan would increase' the amount to be found by the Thames 'County by approximately £5OO per year. Present Burden Of Rates

The present burden of rates on farm lands in the Thames County is all that the lands can carry. Any ditional rates would seriously embarrass the owners. The total area of the Thames County is 262,409 acres and forestry reserves and Crown lands together with Native Lands total 180,031 acres. On this 180,031 acres no rates are collected, the Crown consistently refusing to recognise liability, leaving the remaining. 82,369 acres tO’ carry the burden of all charges. In other words, three out of eight acres are rateable.

The present loan indebtedness of the Thames county is £80,900 and out of a total rate collection of approximately £19,000 over £5OOO goes in interest and sinking funds are £1394 15s Hd in hospital rates.

The position of the Thames borough has received sufficient publicity. over the past years to convince most people that any additional burden would-be a matter for serious concern. The bulk of the charges in the county would have to be faced by the dairy farmers and as their income .is’ limited under stabilisation regulations and when asked to accept the stabilised price an undertaking was given that where practical their costs would be held.

Farmers’ representatives should insist that no further charges should be imposed. In his final broadcast immediately prior to the election the Prime Minister stated that he would not alter the incidence of hospital rating' but would be prepared to make special provisions for local bodies whose finances would be strained by increasing hospital rates and it is suggested that he be asked to fulfil this undertaking. £50,000 Not Enough?

It is generally anticipated that £50,000 will not complete the proposed work and that a sum more than twice this amount will ultimately be required. Mr W. Flooks moved that we protest against the proposed £50,000 loan for the new hospital at Thames, as the farmers’ income is on a fixed basis such extra loan would create undue hardship and urge that such loan 'be taken out of the Consolidated Fund and Stabilisation Account. This was seconded by Mr R. E. Wilson and carried unanimously.