NOT REPRESENTED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3244, 26 March 1943, Page 5

NOT REPRESENTED

FARMERS & REHABILITATION LOCAL COMMITTEE CRITICISED Although there was not one there should be a majority of them on the Thames Rehabilitation Committee was the opinion expressed by farmers gathered from all parts of the Thames Valley at the meeting on Tuesday of the Northern Thames Sub-Pro-vincial Executice of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union.

It was pointed out that the Thames Rehabilitation Committee had been constituted from representatives of the Thames W.W.S.A., the Thames R.S.A., Engineers’ Union and Industrial Workers’ Union, with the Mayor of Thames and the committee was in control of rehabilitation in the whole of the Thames Valley, including districts as far afield as Morrinsville.

Members contended that such a committee could not handle rehabilitation in farming areas as it was not in a position to know the problems which faced such work.

It was decided to enter a protest at the method adopted in organising control of rehabilitation in the Thames Valley. Later during the meeting the Matatoki branch moved the following remit concerning rehabilitation :—

“That we protest against the start being given to town interests in making application for expenditure of public money for rehabilitation purposes. .The needs of the country districts, we urge, are of more importance for the rehabilitation both of returned soldiers and of the nation and all avenues for land settlement should be explored before those of city expansion receive attention so that a sound balance may be preserved.”