NEGATIVED BY FARMERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 214, 18 September 1940, Page 5

NEGATIVED BY FARMERS

THE RURAL HOI 3 SING SCHEME TANF.ATUA AND EDGECUMBE MEETINGS -STATE ADVANCES FAVOURE!) Meetings held yesterday at Edgecumbe and at Taneatua gave district ratepayers the opportunity to strongly oppose the jpiove by the County Council *h« new Rural Housing Scheme which involved"" - "" ..thek raising of £50»000 and the levyVg of a security rate over the whole county of 31-40ths of a penny in tfifc £. The chief objection was the method of ; application, speakers claiftiing' that to impose a rate as a guarantee over all ratepayers for the sake of a few who would benefit was unfair. . v, , "last evening fl'ftylonlflpbns attended a - meeting riieldNirihe hall over which Mr G. McCready presided. The County Chairman, Ivlr J- L. Burnett, outiined the scheme stat- : ing that, it was brought down by the Government in response to repeated appeals from the farming -community for a housing scheme similar to that introduced in the towns. .Money was being made available at 3 per cent over a term of 25 years to the local bodies which were to administrate it. He had heard it • described as an iniquitous thing to strike a-rate -but the Government had to have a security and in this "instance the rate, if it ever was collectable was to have a priority over -all other claims.

Administration. The money, said Mr Burnett, would be lent out over periods of 15, 20 or 25 years, and tlie local .-authority woukl be allowed a Vi per cent for administration. He admitted that it was a new departure for a County Council, but recognised that under the war conditions all sorts of undertakings had to be shouldered. The council had not .tried to force the scheme through and now after having given it careful consideration it was taking the opportunity of laying it before the ratepayers. The machinery for its 'introduction had certainly been set in motion and the whole matter cwould again be discussed at the next meeting. Personally he considered .■"that it was a sincere move by the Government ♦o improve the housing conditions in the country and thereby encourage workers- to stay on the 3 and. x - ■ v Accused of Rushing It. Mr B. F. Grace said that in the "face of strong opposition from the ratepayers the council appeared to be rushing the scheme through when in his opinion it was not justified. The scheme was only likely to benefit a few, while the man near the border line would be cut out in favour of his more fortunate neighbour 'who could show the assets. He ~\vas not opposed to the scheme but considered the Government should deal direct with the': person concerned instead of asking the council to go guarantor.

Question and Answer. I * " I Mr Hewitt: What would the rate 'realise over the county? Mr Burnett: £3200. Mi* Mead: Would the council proceed without recourse to a poll of the ratepayers? 'Mr Burnett: Yes, in this instance. It is not necessary to hold a poll as the chances of ever collecting the rate arc very remote. Mr Grace: Ts the rate collected at once and plaee;l to a reserve? Mr is not collected. Mr Grace: It would be rather late to collect it after you have got into 'trouble. Mr Burnett: You are assuming then that the whole tiling will be a failure? Mr Grace: No, I'm assuming that after the war when things will not be so easy and Great Britain will find difficulty in taking all our produce and Mr Nasi: has not given us a guaranteed price to cover a proportionate fall in values, it might be necessary to collect the rate. Mr Burnett said he thought that the mortgagee would see that payments Were kept up in his own intcr--csts, If it ever got so bad as the -speaker stated he scarcely thought the farmers would be able to stand even the rate. In reply to Mr Mead, Mr Burnett -said the limit to each loan was

£1250, the building was left to the individual farmer and the council did not anticipate an abnormal rush for permits. Mrs Frankland wanted to know if a person living m one of the townships in the county could apply for a loan successfully? Mr Burnett thought it possible that a person connected actively with primary production could apply. Mr Mead thought that the township areas should definitely, be excluded as they drew no benefits whatsoever . He pointed out also the the levy owing to the enhanced value of town properties of small acreage compared with rural land. Crown Tenants.

Mr McCready asked the position regarding the Crown tenants to which Mr Burnett replied that the State Advances was going into that aspect and would make special provision . In the event of a slump too he thought there would be a cutting down of the responsibilities upon the individual, and in this respect he saw no reason why the Government should not shoulder the same losses which might be imposed upon the county. Mr Grace: Will the council proceed with the scheme in the event of this meeting opposing it? Mr Burnett: I cannot speak for the eleven members, but I can assure you that it will be given careful consideration. Mr Grace: From its past actions it would appear that the council was likely to ignore the feelings of the ratepayers. Mr Burnett: I did not say that. More Views. Mr Ruddick supported the scheme spointing out that the money available was at the cheapest rate it was possible to get. Mr McCready mentioned the difficulty of procuring labour on the farms even when the best accommodation was offered,. He contended further that banking institutions would welcome the opportunity to advance money on the same basis 'of a county-wide guarantee. Mr Grace said that the county officers had all they could handle at the present time without a further responsibility being thrust on them. Mr Burnett replied that the officers were prepared to embody the work in their ordinary duties. There would be two inspections of the house in the course of construction, each costing 2os and possibly an annual, inspection thereafter. The y 2 per cent for administration represented only £250 per year. Motion Forwarded. On the motion of Mr Bradshaw, seconded by Mr Hawthorn, the fom lowing resolution was then put to the meeting and carried by twentyone votes to seven, many of those present not voting:-*-That this meeting of ratepayers is of the opinion that the Rural Housing Scheme is not in the interest of ratepayers in general, being its the form of a 'joint and several' and calls upon the council not to proceed with it in its present form.