FARMERS' HARDSHIPS.

Grey River Argus, 20 June 1933, Page 8

FARMERS' HARDSHIPS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —As a ratepayer of the Grey County Council I should like to voice a protest against the action of the Councillors in sending delegates to the Counties Conference. I can assure Cr. Carter he has the support of the primary producers. I would remind Councillors that at the la.st election, ratepayers did not oppose the present members, owing to their desire to save expense. I also wish to protest against giving the Chairman an honorarium of £lOO per year. Taking the average during the past five years, the Chairman misses one meeting during his term. This means he is getting £9 for presiding per meeting. I think everyone must agree it docs not need any great intellectual ability to oc- ' cupy the position. I noticed in the press report that when a mining company applied for remission of rent, a Councillor, though opposed to the application, stated he would get away with it if he could and it seems to bo the idea of the Councillors to get away without a protest, in sending a delegate to a conference which will not equal the value of the cost involved. If there is a County Clerks’ Conference, why not lot the clerks organisation be the sponsor for the clerk attending. Administration costs both in local and National bodies have ( got to be cut fifty per cent. It rs no use putting off the evil day. If prices do not rise, and administrative bodies still go on the old sweet way all the time. New Zealand will be heading for insolvency and disastci. Councillors ought io know that 30 per cent, of rates were not collected last year, and next year, if prices do not improve considerably, the defici- , eucy will be double what it was last year. Ido not believe that many of your readers realise the difficulty experienced by the primary producers in making ends- meet. I can give my own personal experience. I have not got any interest on mortgage to meet: I have a good herd of cows, and, after paving all charges, maintenance and wages (only casual), my returns showed a. balance last year of £46, and £l4 of that was paid in rates, leaving £32, of which £l/10/- was to be paid for the Unemployment Levy. T had to work twelve hours a day, and also to work on Sunday. I wish to ask Councillors how they expect rates to be paid. Tt was stated that the Clerk’s salarv has been reduced 20 per cent. The dairy farmers salary was reduced last year 55 per cent., ami now he has to face a further 40 per cent, drop from the start of last year. 1 make the assertion that 95 per cent, of the farmers, and especially dairy farmers, arc worse off thau the men on the dole. I would also like to remind Councillors that the Westland County Council rates are a. penny in the pound. I know that half the local rate is absorbed for Charitable Aid ami the Hospital; but is it fair to take £7 per year out of a.n income of £46 for Hospital fees? Further, rates arc levied as when prices were higher, and I think we have a just right to demand that rates should not be struck on what values were, but what they arc today. While realising that we must have transport and the different allied trades, the fundamental and most important industry is primary production. To show how important the industry is, 1 would suggest that we should go on holiday for 12 months. Lt would be efficient in one thing—we should get rid of many parasites living on the industry. Finally, I wish to say in reference to Councillor Hannan stating that those ratepayers who had failed to carry out their obligations in reference to unpaid rates, could be sued, that you cannot get blood out of a stone. You will remember reading in the old book that the Children of Israel were given straw to make bricks with, and they revolted. And the only difference between then and now is that we have Aot got a Moses to lead us out of the land of bondage into the promised laud. COUNTY RATEPAYER.