HOSPITAL BOARD’S LEVY

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 40, 3 June 1938, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD’S LEVY

RATINtr SYSTEM UNPOPULAR COUNTY COUNCIL OBJECTS When a letter was received from the Opotiki Hospital Board, at to-day’s meeting of the Opotiki County Council stating the amount of the levy, councillors expressed .dissatisfaction with the present system of rating for revenue. The letter stated that the levies were higher than those of last year, due to increased costs, the total maintenance levy from the county being £1836. This represents an increase dt over £-100. Mr Maxwell expressed the opinion that the council should make representations to the government to have the levy put on a fairer basis. He thought the county residents paid three times as much per head of population as the borough residents. There would be more patients from the borough than from the county. Cr Hedley thought the money should come from the consolidated fund. Mr Merry said that with the Government’s legislation the rate pi oh* loin would soon he wiped out. Mr Maxwell said that the Hon. F. Langstone had stated that the let y on local bodies would not he lifted. He thought a population basis a fairer method.

Mr Merry said that the’ rate was struck on capital value and a large part of the county was Native land. On the population basis they would be very little better olf. It was decided to write to the Counties’ Conference protesting against the present system and asking that the money he paid from the Consolidated Fund.