HOSPITAL LEVY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 145, 11 February 1932, Page 6

HOSPITAL LEVY

NATIYE PROPERTIES ASSESSED WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING RATES CONFERENCE PROPOSED o „ A difficulty which continually confronts the Rotorua County Council is the assessment of the rateable value of Maori property for the purpose of striking the hospital levy. The council finds that while its levy is based upon the county valuation including these holdings, it is quite impossible to colleet rates from a proportion of the natives. The opinion has been expressed that some adjustment should be made to exclude such properties from the valuation list. A conference of local bodies in this district has been suggested to deal with the matter. Yesterday, Mr. George Urquhart, district representative on the Waikato Hospital Board, met the council to discuss the position. He pointed out that a complication existed in the fact that the Ngati Whakaue under the terms of their treaty were entitled to free medical attention. They objected to the levy in the borough and he expected they would do so in the county also. Mr. H. P- .Ford (the chairman) asked if it would not be reasonable to have these native properties removed from the assessment roll. Mr. Urquhart agreed, but said that the natives at Whaka and other places should contribute. Nothing could be lost by holding a conference. He suggested April as a suitable time, and said if the Taupo Road Board, the County Council and the Borough Council got together, it wiuld set the ball rolling. The conference will be called accordingly.