PLEA FOR ECONOMY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 January 1931, Page 2

PLEA FOR ECONOMY

DEPUTATION TO WAIMEA COUNTY COUNCIL POSITION OF FARMERS IN DOVEDALE DISTRICT A deputation consisting of Messrs Silcock (Dovedale), Llewellyn (Ngatimoti) and Green (Pokororo) representatives of the branches of the Farmers’ Unions in those places, waited on the Waimea County Council to-day in order to convey to the Council the feelings of the taxpayers in the districts which they represent. Mr Siicock explained that a meeting of ratepayers at Dovedale passed resolutions asking the Council (1) to economise; (2) not to press for the payment of the extra 10 per cent, on overdue rates ; and (3) to reduce administrative staff or salaries. He said the report of the ratepayers’ meeting which was forwarded to the “Mail” did not express the feeling of the meeting. There was no antagonism and Councillor Kenyon, who represented that district did not have to defend the Council. However, the Councillor had explained the working of the Council. Mr Silcock said there were a number of farmer ratepayers in an unfortunate financial position this season and it was lioped the Council would not push for the payment of the 10 per cent, surcharge on overdue rates by those who were 3 having difficulty in meeting their obligations. Mr Llewellyn said the people lie represented wished to impress on the members of the Council the necessity of economy at the present time. “The farmers are in a precarious position,” he said. “The farmers of New Zealand were trying to reduce all costs. They could not control the price of their produce and so they must reduce expenditure. There was always a belief that the County rates were too high and the farmers thought they should be reduced. At the present time the farmers were using up their little accumulated capital which in many cases was now almost exhausted. The Farmers’ Union was working to reduce costs. Labour costs were being reduced as the farmers had not the money to pay so much.” His Union considered Council expenditure should be reduced. One suggestion was that administration costs should be reduced either by a reduction in staff or a reduction in salaries, or both. His union favoured a reduction in wages, but if the Council could carry on with a reduced staff it should be clone. “A great number of farmers are getting down to what might be called the bread line in their scale of living,” continued Mr Llewellyn, “and the flour bag is being used for many more purposes than the one for which it was intended.” The cost of living had dropped considerably in late years, especially last year. The purchasing power of the L in 1926 was 12s 3d and in 1930 it was 12s lOi-d. With the lowered cost of living a reduction of 5 per cent, in salaries would not make a person worse off than in 1926. Since 1914 farm costs had increased proportionately from 1000 to 1600 in 1929. Production values had fluctuated from 1000 and in October 1930 were fixed at 1032. With the export index at 1032 and costs index at 1600 it was easily seen that the farmers were at present drawing on their little capital. The farmers were of the opinion that the Council should investigate all the possible means of economy and mark time on road improvement and in so doing help the farmers out of their difficulty. Councillor H. Everett considered it was not legal to dispense with the 10 per cent and a person could be exempt from rates only on the grounds of y °The chairman (Councillor J. Corder) asked the deputation not to go away with the idea that the Council did not realise the position of the farmers. Compared with the average the Waimea ’County v'as below the average for aclministration costs. The Council, he said, was out to help the ratepayers and to get as low a rate as possible. He thought it could be taken that next year the rates would he down. The service of the draughtsman who had been employed had now been dispensed with.