THE RURAL HOUSING SCHEME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 220, 2 October 1940, Page 4

THE RURAL HOUSING SCHEME

nett's part, to fetch politics into the argument when the Government has offered hutments and married couples' dwellings to the farmers at rfair rent. - Yours etc., Wm. BRADSHAW.

Sir, —After reading, a recent leading article in the Herald dealing with Nazi methods, any Britisher would have a feeling of intense resentment against the German lead-* ers, and alsio one of satisfaction in knowing that our leaders would not adopt such" tactics. Reviewing recent tliscussions and decisions of our Council, one is almost convinced that the Nazi . philosophy of force is not altogether a monopoly of the Germans., One case in point is the Housing Scheme which was to be foisted on to the Nukuhou and Waimana rate-* payers without a chance of discuss sion or approval. - IS'' '. We are told that the chairman stated at the Council table that he could speak for Nukuhou and Waimana and there was no need for meetings in those districts—appar- . ently we are " fortunate in Waimana having two representatives. The almost unanimous negative vote at the ,eleventh-Jiour meeting in Waimana, and the petition of ratepayers against the proposal, are sufficient answer .without further comment. , • If the statement attributed to the chairman is correct—(it is borne out by the fact that meetings were not to be held in Waimana or Nukuhou) , —it is certainly extraordinary for a gentleman in a responsible position to convey a wrong impression to the other councillors regarding the opin nons of ratepayers. The County Chairman's reasons why ratepayers should support the scheme were certainly neither convincing nor logical. He stated that it was n*vt. intended to collect the rate. If that is so, why in the'name of .common sense is a three farthing rate to be sfruck over the whole County? It is evidently only a sch- ■ erne to get the farmers to shoulder a responsibility which should be carried by the State Advances Cor-i jjoration. ' This Department is reported to have turned down applications froni County ratepayers because the farms , were not considered large -enough to warrant the erection of a second dwelling. No doubt it would be quite in order to erect these houses with the backing of the ratepayers*

The administration of the scheme is to be carried out by the County staff. Is any member of the stafl} qualified for this job or have they the time? We hear of requests from ratepayers for a little of the Engineer's time in their districts refused because his time is fully we also see county assets depreciating for want of supervision,™ The chairman advises us to accept the scheme because others will get the benefit of the money if we refuseIt is rather surprising to hear these sentiments from the chairman considering the ratepayers have lost such a large amount in the recently cancelled out, unspent portions of road ilnd bridge grants through the 'tui-hoa' administration of the council. ■ ■■. A. "■ -• Yours etc.., RATEPAYER'. Waimana, 2^/9/40. Sir,—Whilst reading your report . of the Whakatane County Council's meeting, 23/9/40, I note that Mr Burnett said he had made the position quite clear, but his statement that the rate will not be struck cannot? be verified as from his own further statement: "I-f and when there is a writingdown—as there assuredly must, be—' the loss will have to be faced by taxpayers of New. Zealand." He goes on to say he was not setting himself up as a prophet but there was a possibility of a slump, and that we might as well get some of the benefits the towns 'were getting. But he forgets to tell the coun-> try dweller that he will be paying two to one, indirectly. The rural ratepayer will have to contribute to the city losses as well as his own. The farmer who. did not borrow will have to contribute to the lot. One word more. I consider it very unfair and not judicious on Mr Bur-: