HOSPITAL RATING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 14 August 1937, Page 11

HOSPITAL RATING

RURAL OBLIGATIONS

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM,

When the financial statement was before yesterday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County Council comment was made on the increasing hospital levy which amounts to £6950 for the year. Cr A. J. Gimblett said that rural ratepayers were becoming concerned at the growing burden and lie felt that an assurance should “go out to the world” that local bodies were alive to the position.

The chairman (Cr G. A. Monk! thought it was generally agreed by now that the incidence of iiospital taxation as it affected rural ratepayers required adjustment. “The Kairanaga County Council,” he added, “is taking steps to call a conference of local bodies in the Palmerston North Hospital district, hut I have discussed the matter with the chairman (Mr DCollis) and he has agreed that consideration of the local aspect should be held over until after the counties’ conference at widen the whole question will be dealt with.”

Cr Monk then went on to ieier to various remits to come before the conference. One urged the Government to push on with its health insurance legislation, but to allow county representatives to give evidence before a Parliamentary committee before the details of the legislation were finalised. Another —“a hardy annual” —advocated hospitals being maintained solely out of the Consolidated Fund, while a third suggested that the unemployment levy should be retained, any excess of funds to go to relieving, rural hospital rating. "With reference to the health insurance scheme,” said the chairman, “1 hardly think it will be of a great deal of assistance in relieving hospital taxation. If it is decided to set a certain sum aside out of the fund to ease this taxation it will be alright; if it is left to the individual it will be as hopeless as ever.” Cr C. P. Jensen: Pay it out of the Consolidated Fund; that is the only way. The chairman: And then the Government would take over the whole administration. Local control would be dispensed with. (Jr Jensen : I’m not in favour ol that, but at the same time the Government seems to aiming in that direction.

The chairman said that such a proposal had probably gained some prominence through the recent Napier inquiry. “But I stand for local control,” he declared, “Let the Government hold an inquiry into the administration of the Palmerston North Hospital and I am certain that the board would come through with flying colours.” (Hear! Hear!) The remit favouring the utilisation of excess Employment Promotion Funds, went on Mr Monk, had much to commend it as it suggested a practical alternative; but at the present rate he doubted if there was to be any excess for some time to come. (Laughter), “if it were to mean an increase in the employment promotion tax on top of the proposed new levy lor health insurance, I don’t think the people would stand for it,” he said. The whole thing, he concluded, bristled with difficulties, but possibly -a solution would yet be found.