COUNTY RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1939, Page 13

COUNTY RATES

PROTEST MEETING

"INIQUITOUS SYSTEM"

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

LEVIN, This Day.

A meeting of farmer ratepayers, called by the Levin branch of the Farmers' Union to protest against the heavy increase of rates, filled the Century Hall, Levin, to overflowing. The chairman of the County Council, Mr. G. A. Monk, and all councillors were present. Mr. C. E. C. Webb, chairman of the local branch of the Farmers' Union, was chairman.

In outlining the objects of the meeting, Mr. Webb said he hoped some scheme could be evolved to check rising costs. The farmer was the only one whose income was fixed by overseas prices. Every other industry passed on increased costs to the con-, sumer.

It was contended by several speakers that the users should pay for the upkeep of roads and not the owners of the land through which the road ran.

The system of hospital rating came, in for general condemnation. In a very brief period, it was stated, the': county's contribution had increased from £3800 to £8200 in 1939. Pal- j merston North paid £16,000 and the rest of the area £30,000, yet Palmerston North outnumbered other districts by two to one patients. COUNCIL NOT TO BLAME. Mr. G. A. Monk said he was glad farmers were "waking up" to the position, but the council was in no way to' blame for the burdens to be borne. The main highway through the county was constructed when people leaned less on Government support, and as a consequence a sum of nearly £5000 had to be found annually by ratepayers for interest. The Government had taken the main highway out of their hands, but had left them with the liability. Other, counties which had left their main roads in a state fit only for bullock drays had had all the work done with no liability to the ratepayers. This item for interest, added to the hospital levy over which they had no control, accounted for 33 per cent, of the rates levied. Wages, salaries, plant maintenance, and cost of materials had increased enormously. Rural derating was the only relief they could look for. This was coming, but its progress was slow. Another method of relief which the Government had -been asked fo,r was a subsidy of £1 for £1 from the petrol fund for every form of road. The roads belonged to the users and not to the lands adjoining. The Counties' Association had masked 'the Minister to stabilise the rate levied by hospital boards on the charges of last year, but he would not consent. If the Social Security tax was raised to ls 2d there would be no need for a hospital rate. The fact that there was a large number of Maori land owners in the county, the majority of whom paid no rates, added to the burden of the pakeha. |

' The following motion was carried without dissent:—"That this large and representative meeting of ratepayers of the Horowhenua County views with alarm • the ever-increasing burden of rates and pledges to do all in its power to assist the council to bring before the proper authorities the urgent need for the removal of the present iniquitous system of rating."