HOSPITAL RATES

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 117, 2 December 1938, Page 2

HOSPITAL RATES

PAYMENTS BY NATIVES REPLY FROM COUNCIL In reply to the secretary of the New Zealand Counties’ Association re the payment oil' hospital rates within the Opotiki County. Air. J. T. Merry, clerk of the Opotiki County Council, read the following reply at to-day’s meeting of the council : He Hospital Hates.— In reply to your enquiry of 12th. ultimo, following is the position in respect of hospital rates struck and coil looted on Native and European properties respectively, during the past five years. Hospital Hates.

From the foregoing figures it will be seen that the percentage of Hospital Hates paid by the Natives is considerably less than those paid, by./Europea ns. Generally Native lands are valued lower than European lands, consequently there are less rates struck in -proportion on Native lands. - A( There is a further aspect also, the Natives in this County pay less than 10 per cent, of their patients’ lees to the hospital, whereas the Europeans pay approximately (30 per cent, oif their fees.

\ 933-34 Native £175 8 0 Paid £13 10 10 1934-85 £180 14 10 £19 4 0 1935-30 £171 12 11 £10 10 1 1. 1930-37 £159 13 5 £21 0 4 1937-38 £121 13 5 £13 5 ' 0 1933-34 European. £909 12 2 £491 18 0 1934-35 £9(57 12 11 £699 19 i 1930-3(5 £954 6 0 £044 8 5 1930-37 £940 9 2 £708 4 S 1937-38 £940 9 2 £708 4 8