HOSPITAL RATES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 43, 12 February 1946, Page 2

HOSPITAL RATES

MANGONUI COUNTY OPPOSITION FARMERS STAND FIRM That farmers in the Mangonui district are almost unanimous in their determination to resist the latest demands of the Commissioner of Taxes for hospital rates, was embodied in a report made to the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Auckland Province) at the last meeting of the Executive held, recently by Mr E. R. Bird, who in conjunction with Mr C. B. Miehie has led a campaign towards that end. Mr Bird outlined the position which had arisen as a result of the latest government legislation and emphasised the difficulties which laced those who were, really fighting for the rights of the farmers throughout, the Dominion. However, he said, it was quite evident from a public meeting recently held at Kalinin that they were quite prepared to go a long way in subordinating their personal interests to the welfare of the farming community. “If we compromised now in response to Government threats and promises ” said the speaker, “no one could say we did not put up a fight, but we would be betraying the rest of the Dominion.”

What they were seeking now was a public enquiry by a competent legal body to determine the justice or otherwise of their attitude'. Mr A. C. A. Sexton reported upon an interview he had had with the Acting Premier Mr Nash he said had been most courteous and declared his wish to be helpful. He would he said go to extreme •5 1 lengths to satisfy the Mangonui ratepayers but added that an imperative condition to any consideration of relief was that the rate imposed must first be paid.

The question was raised as to whether the Kaitaia Dairy Company could be compelled by the Government to deduct from suppliers’ cheques the. amount due for hospital rates. This query was answered in the affirmative by Mr Sexton who pointed out that failure to make such deduction might render the officials of the Dairy Company liable to a fine of £IOO. Meantime it was apparent from Mr Bird’s report, that the ratepayers of Mangonui are not paying the rate.