POOR COUNTRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 21 July 1923, Page 11

POOR COUNTRY.

HARDSHIP IN TARANAKI

The prevailing opinion regarding the prosperity of Taranaki was somewhat disturbed by views expressed by the chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board (Mr. M. Fraser), in a speech as a member of a deputation that waited on the Prime Minister yesterday on the subject of hospital subsidies. ! "We have a population of 30,000, and a large number of wasters among them,'' said Mr. Frasers. "We have to keep them and their wives and children. We are not allowed to call it charitable aid, but it costs us a couple of thousand a year. Taranaki is prosperous, but it | consists of very small holdings, with 1 poor men loaded to death with mortgages and with having to pay land taxesv On accoxxnt of the nautre of the country the roads are hard to keep in order. Farmers are perishing under the taxation they have to pay for the upkeep of the roads. Last year we went I behind £7000, and we had to borrow it. j When we struck a rate of 3d extra we had sixteen county and borough councils at us like roaring lions. They said they ceuld not stand any more taxes. Although we send enormous supplies of butter away, we think that, though Taranaki is prosperous, they bought the land too dear. When we ask for necessaries for hospitals, they say, 'Far God's sake, leave us alone. I