Harbour Rate Regarded As Last Straw

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 110, 26 May 1937, Page 7

Harbour Rate Regarded As Last Straw

CONVERT-

Sir, — The decision of the Napier Harbour Board to levy a Tate ih Hawke 's Bay comes as a great shock to many of us smallholders. Surely, in view of Mr Geddis's emphatie promises at polling time that there would be no rates neede.d, the ratepayets are entitled to more sympathetic eonsideration in this matter. The blame for the estimates going awry is attributed to the high costs incurred nnder the Government 's labour policy. Now, Sir, most businesses can pass these extra eharges on, but in the case of the man on the land, especdally those on smalPrural areas, he has to bear the • whole brunt of the labour policy. Can any sane-minded Labour advocate say this is fair? A great many fruitgrowers in this district have loBt their crops two years in succession now, and with every local body talking of raasing rates to meet higher wages costs it is eno'ugh to break the stoutest heart. Most of the sinall farmers would be much better off if they left their farms and went to live in town, where their only worry would be how many sustenance grants they would be entitled to. Sir, I think the Harbour Board should honour its pledges aud build the harbour out of revenue and the loan money, even if it means modifying their original plans. Costs are too high at the present time to warrant this job being done by day labour.— Yours, etc,,

Havelock N., May 24, 1937,