HOSPITAL AND GENERAL RATING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 52, 27 February 1945, Page 5

HOSPITAL AND GENERAL RATING

PRODUCERS' VIEWS

REQUEST FOR ACTION

A request that the Dominion executive implement the Dominion conference resolution regarding effective action with special reference to hospital but also including general was made by the Waimana Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in a remit to the quarterly meeting of the Bay of Plenty Sub-Provincial Executive in Tauranga which received the unanimous support, of the delegates. It was felt by the Waimana branch that the Farmers' Union should be prepared by the beginning of the next rating year to back up and safeguard the Mangonui council in its lone, stand against rating. Speaking in support of the remit which he moved Mr Hewitt (Waimana) said that the matter had been going on for some time. He detailed a suggestion that a vote of all the farmers on this subject should be taken. This would lie to find out whether the fanners as a body were prepared to strike. If it was found after canvassing that there was not. enough support then, the whole thing would have to be "washed out." The farmers would know where they stood bj T this method. One hun-j dred per cent, of the ratepayers would be contacted.

Mr G. Chapman (Tauranga) thought that if the farmers missecl paying for it, they would pay with the. left hand instead of the right. "Were is. it going to come from?" he asked. He was not against the proposal. The Auckland provincial secretary (Mr A. E. Robinson) said when speaking of the derating campaign that it would lie of advantage to the whole country. Whatever was done to relieve taxation would be to the advantage of the country, he thought. Mr H. C. McCready (Taneatua) was of the opinion that Mr Chapman had "missed the bus." The rate was the "first which the income would not meet. "If we get rid of the first mortgage we get rkl of the load," he added. Mr Hewitt explained that the rate had to be paid. They were asking that the money come froYn a different source. If a person had no income, he paid no rates.