NOT FAVOURED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 85, 29 June 1945, Page 5

NOT FAVOURED

DIRECT ACTION UNPOPULAR STRIKING' OF HOSPITAL RATE In answer to the Whakaitane County Council's circular enquiry regarding thie attitude of other County Councils towards the provincial-wide petition from the Farmers' Union urging them not to strike the Hospital rate for the current an overwhelming majority have replied Stating that whilst they objected sltrongly to the rate on principle, they .are not prepared to contemplate u neons t i tut ional means of combating it. In a number of instances no petition had been, presented by the local 1 Farmers* ? and Thames Waikato, Hobson and Rodney re- J plied to' that, effect. Whangaroa, J Whangarei, Waipa, Matamata ; Waitomo, Piako ? and \Vaikato did not ( favour unconstitutional means. Ro- * torua urged joint action as the only 1 means to whilst Waitemata_ Otamatea and Bay of Islands notified that the question had not been considered by their respective coun- < cils. ' , "It seems obvious that the majority of the counties in the Auckland 1 Province do not iavour the Farmers' Union proposal," said Cr Mc- * Cracken. It! was our intention to do < something if backed by 50 per cent, of the other counties in the pro- ] vince. It has. now come to the point , as to what is the. best thing to do. ; We are all opposed to this type of , method of taxation and I feel that it should now be regarded as the responsibility of the Counties' Association which is the only oiganisation capable of taking a national action. Nothing can be done this year but it is up to the Association to formulate some definite course of action. As the Counties Conference takes place next montlV the Council decided to hold the July meeting over until the 31st when the delegates would have an opportunity of reporting when the rates would bie sftrucls.