THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1943 IRRESPONSIBLE TALK

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3277, 18 June 1943, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service.” FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 1943 IRRESPONSIBLE TALK

Some people appear to- have queer ideas about ratepayers and property-owners and their rghts property owners and their rights find currency usually at such times as public controversy turns on issues of taxation or rental values. t At the moment they are being ventilated on the subject of the unfair double taxation imposed on ratepayers, in connection with hospital’ levies. For example, those who oppose the claims of ratepayers for more equitable treatment not infrequently make play upon the suggestion that property-owners are well-enough off to afford the extra burden. A moment’s reflection would show that this kind of talk is irresponsible and foolish. Among property-owners in this country there are many thousands of wage-earners, people >of comparatively small means, who own, or are buying by instalments, their own homes. As is well known, New Zealand is becoming a nation of home-own-ers. These are among the people who are complaining, as they have a right to. complain, of the inequity of taxing a section of the community for a contributon toward the benefit of the community as a whole. A large proportion of them are good Labour Unionists; but they are condemned and penalised through the loose-thinking of certain of their own leaders who appear to regard anything in the shape of an owner of property as a fair target for their attacks.

VEGETABLES BY CONTRACT The reaction of those engaged in the industry to the Government’s scheme for the supply of vegetables by contract has been generally hostile, chiefly on account of the prices offered. It is clear that if progress is to be made there will have to be a recasting of the proposals to give a fair return to producers and to those engaged in distribution. The national position is reasonably clear and the urgent need must be kept in view in all the discussions. In the current year the Government has undertaken under the lend-lease scheme to supply the United States forces with assistance valued at £20,000,000 including £9,000,000 for foodstuffs. Vegetables represent a very considerable item. The total involved in “reverse lendlease” last year was only £7,000,000, and it s obvious that the effort 'must be expanded in the current year. It was to meet the increased need that the Government’s plan was evolved. The all-inclusiveness of the plan immediately aroused the suspicion that this was another step in the

“socialisation” of industry. The whole 'scheme was ineptly publicised and even now growers and the general public do not fully understand its remifications. The purchase of vegetables under contract is to begin on July 1, but if success is expected it is desirable that the Government should begin again with a reasoned approach to the growers and the public. Clearly it is necessary that the production of vegetables should be increased very substantially if the obligation to the Allied forces is to be discharged. It is equally clear that the objective will not be reached on the present basis.