DERATING

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32593, 9 July 1945, Page 7

DERATING

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I would congratulate Messrs Campbell and Blackmore and Crs. Christensen and Thompson on the stand taken at the last Ohinemuri County Council meeting. The chairman raised the point of constitutionalism. I believe it is' a fact that New Zealand does not possess a constitution. The question is not whether direct action is illegal or not, the question is whether illegal action is justified; Illegal action by unions is constantly resorted and recognised by Governments as a justifiable means used iby aggrieved sections to get their case heard; I say justifiable, because the Government that yields to it, ipso facto, admits its justification. Precedent is a very potent factor, nationally and internationally.

Trades unionism declares, that it has never abrogated its. right to strike. Those who declare the exercise of this right to be unconstitutional should consider whether, living in Rome, they should not do as Rome does. However, until the Counties’ Conference has seen what crumbs it can collect, it is too early to decide on a definite line of action.

The Farmers’ Union has in train a scheme whereby all candidates- for county councils, to obtain Farmers Union support, will have to subscribe to the union policy on the derating question, whether illegal or not, and I would urge all farmers, who are also county councillors to attend their union meetings, and assist us with their experience of local body matters, so that in- the event of the Counties 1 ’ Conference being abortive on the derating question, some line of action may be decided upon by farmers, united, not disunited, as at present. • Those of us who were privileged to attend the Auckland Provincial Conference were left in no doubt as- to the attitude of the conference to the derating question, and the account given by Mr Michie of the Mangonui County position was received 'so sympathetically that a resolution was carried unanimously to pay up to £lOO, the legal costs of that county in any litigation with the Government.

Bay of Islands, Raglan, Whakatane and Waitemata County Councils, and there may be others, decided to await the result of the Counties Conference in July-before striking their rates, denoting a commendable degree of liaison between, themselves and the Farmers’ Union.

Capt. 'Rushworth recalled the fact that when he was- an MjP. he had piesented large petitions for derating of farm lands. The Select Committee- of the -House to which the question was referred after sitting for six months, presented an unanimous recommendation that total derating of farm lands )>e brought about, but nothing was done. Auckland conference unanimously passed the following:—“That the delegates to the 1'945* conference pledge themselves- on returning home to energetically support the <Mangonui district’s fight for hospital derating by positive and considered action within their own counties.” We are to some extent holding our hands until the result of the Counties’ Conference is known. We expect county councillors to give the Farmers’ Union every assistance in their power for the attainment of our object, which is also theirs, and this can best be done by frank discussion at Farmers’ Union branch meetings and by voting on a majority basis on what is a question affecting, farmerratepayers predominantly. I presume that those councillors who attend such meetings would be loyal to the verdict of a well-attended meeting, otherwise they should not expect Farmers’ Union supports—l am, etc., ROBT. L. WILSON, Pres. Matatoki Branch F-U-