"A POOR COUNTRY."

Northern Advocate, 24 July 1923, Page 6

"A POOR COUNTRY."

HARDSHIP IX TAEAXAKI.

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 last week, on the subject of hospital subsidies.

"We have a population of 30,000, | and a large number of wasters among them," said Mr Fraser. "We have to j keep them and their wives and chil- j clrcn. 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 poor men, loaded to death with mortgages, and with having to pay land taxes. On account of ,' ie nature of the country the roads are hard to keep in order. Farmers arc perishing under the taxation they have to pay for the upkeep of the roads. Last year we went behind i £7000, and we had to borrow it. When we struck a rate of 3d extra, we had sixteen county and borough councils at us like roaring lions. They said they could net stand any more taxes. Although we send enormous supplies of butter away, we think that, though is prosperous, they bought the land too dear. When we ask for necessaries for hospitals, they s«iy> 'For God'a sake, leave us alone.' "