COUNTY ELECTIONS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 305, 14 May 1941, Page 5

COUNTY ELECTIONS

MR H. C. McCREADY'S ADDRESS MEETING AT OHOPE i Although the attendance was as ■ usual at Ohope not very large those : ratepayers who- attended the Captain's Cabin ah Ohope on Monday l night took a keen interest in the • address delivered by Mr H. C. Mc-i : Cready, sitting member for the Taneatua Riding ofi the Whakatanc i County., and at the conclusion of ■ the address a vote of thanks wished the speaker every success at the coming election. No Apologies. Mr McCready opened his remarks by stating that he had no apologies to offer for the way he had cared for the Avelfare of Ohope during the last term. He had been a "trier" find had fought for Oliope's difficulties all the way. The going, had not I been easy but he added that with the Domain Board now formed, and "1 to 58" enjoying a rest residents could look forward to more peaceful times. Where Rates Go. The speaker explained that frequently ratepayers wanted to know where their money had gone. He had figures which revealed that the amount levied in the Riding was £2556 5s 5d of which only £519 12s had been spent on the work of the riding for roads, bridges, lighting and other usual riding work. The remainder of the money collected went in re-paying old county loans, and actually onily 30' per cent of the moneys collected throughout the county was spent on new,, and maintenance work which, could bo seen by the ratepayers. Ohope had been well treated in the proportion of the money spent in the riding, nnd its importance was now recognised more. Hospital Levy. Mr McCready explained that the hospital levy had been raised this year, but this was through no fau!. 1 of the Hospital Board which had a formidable task. This" Board was under a dictatorship from the Health Department Avliicih gave it\ instructions as to what was required nnd left the Board with no say in the matter. The Board would like to plan ahead, but the. Department would not do so and its patch work policy was most expensive. The hospital at present average 58 beds occupied daily. The maintenance of a bed in the hospital was f6s and with the; introduction of the Social Security Scheme, 6s of this amount was. paid for by the Stat-? and 10s by the ratepayers l , which meant that £30 per day was drawn from the ratepayers. This was far ivorse than the old system when there, was a chance of recovering the fees from the patients, but 1 now with the 10s to pay on each occupied bed plus the large rise in general costs, the ratepayer was very badly off. Maoris Response. Continuing with rating Mr McCready said that the) Maoris: were realising more their obligation and last year £2800 had been collected against £2000 in tho previous year. He did not agree, with the system that Maoris could not vote until they had wiped off thei arrears accumulated in years gone by. When, « Maori had made a start to pay and continued to do so he should be encouraged by being allowed to vote. Mr McCready also touched on his argument in regard to the 10 per cent penalty. This! he said was most unfair in that a man had to pay his rates, plus: the penalty and although paying for the privilege of being a defaulter could not vote, i Tbis was wrong together with the 10 per cent charge. He: quoted the instance where a man owing £200, if a minutei after time, was charged £20 penalty, and as he had to do so he felt that he might just as well hold the money and not pay until the statute-barred period was reached. Sliding Scale. It had been an argument of the speaker for a long time and he was pleased to say that it was to be suggested to the authorities that the penalty be put on to a sliding scale similar to bank overdrawing. That is that if a man was only two months late he paj r 10 per cent penalty for that time only. Mr McCready continued: that he was being criticised for the stand he had taken, in regard to after

hours trading by hotels. He said that hei would act the same way

again in the same circumstances. He considered that an improvement had been needed in the interests of the ratepayers and had acted accordingly.

The Rural Housing Scheme was also touched upon Mr McCready tracing how he had fought this, considering it unjust, to the ratepayers and particularly to Ohope the residents of which would have to back: the. scheme yet could not' participate in it.

In reply to a question Mr McCready stated that £130 had been spent on the Beach Road and further major work on this was being held pending the decision regarding the route, for the Highway. He also replied that the County had granted the Domain Board £100 and it was hoped that the Government would make a generous subsidy and perhaps the Borough Council also contribute.

Many other matters were dealt with by the speaker who endeavoured to confine his remarks as much as possible to the Ohope point of view, adding that he would be dealing with the farmers; angle at Taneatua on Thursday night. At the conclusion of his address Mr Bullen moved and Mr Clarii seconded a motion of thanks and wished Mr McCready success at the election. Mrs Glougher also spoke congratulating Mr McCready on his ethics and fairplay and thanked him for his interest in Ohope on behalf of the ladies. Mr Dowling was in the chair.