RURAL REACTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 68, 28 April 1944, Page 5

RURAL REACTION

POLLS AMENDMENT BILL

DIRECT ACTION URGED

Something, of the rising temper of primary producers throughout the Dominion, as a result of the recently enacted Local Elections and Polls Amendmemt Bill, could be gleaned from a circular letter received 1 by the Whakatane County Council last Wednesday from the Oroua County Council urging that direct action be taken as a counter measure to force' the withdrawal of the legislation. The letter reads:— - The following motion has been passed by the Oroua County Council: — "That this council ask the president of. the New Zealand Farmers' Union to request the Provincial Council and all branches of the Union to organise, for direct action, to prevent the enforcing of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act.. In asking for your council's endorsement of this resolution, and for its full support of the action taken by the Oroua County Council we would emphasise that, that the real objective of this recent legislation is not simply to extend the 1 franchise to the non-ratepayers, which in itself is a serious threat to rural districts, but its real purpose is to do away with, the county quota and nationalisation, of the land. Resolutions of protest, and telegrams of protest have proved unavailing. Parliamentary opposition is also ignored, so that it is evident that if Ave are going to fight successfully against the present trend of legislation, which is detrimental to primary producers then we are compelled to use the weapon that has been so successfully used'against rural interests by the Labour Unions —direct action. We suggest that this action, can be taken by a concerted refusal on the part of all ratepayers to pay neither rates or income tax until the repeal of. this insidious act is agreed tq by the Labour Government. We hold that the adoption of this course would obviate any curtailment of production, nor would it interfere with the country's war effort. The view taken by the Oroua Council is that the position, of the prim-, ary producer under recent legislation and restriction and as a result ofthe general attitude of the 1 Government is very serious and likely to get worse,, the feeling of. futility and frustration that is spreading must undoubtedly adversely affect, production and drastic action is necessary now if further rapid deterioration is to be prevented;" The council decided to reply by way of forwarding a copy of Its own resolution agitating for a Royal Commission to investigate the whole question of local body administration.