RATEPAYERS INDIGNANT

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 8

RATEPAYERS INDIGNANT

ALLEGED INJUSTICE OF HOKIANGA CONSOLIDATION

One of .the largest gatherings ever held in the district assembled at the Umawera Hall on October 29 when the Waihou, Horeke and Mangamuka ratepayers met to discuss what was considered the grave injustice of over an 80 per cent rise in rates due to the consolidation of loans in the southern Hokianga and the striking of a flat rate over the whole of the county. The councillors for Waihou and Horeke had already interviewed Mh Nash in Wellington, but with little success except that the Minister admitted the injustice and said that the case could be opened later for adjustment. 9

At the meeting on Thursday, Crs. O. Perry and Austin, pointed out 'that as these three ridings had no say whatever v/fien the loans were raised by the southern area, and as there was no road community of interest — the Hokianga harbour being the dividing factor, and the railhead and outlet for the ridings—-that it was indeed a’grave injustice to demand that they help pay for the loans, especially as the ridings that incurred the loans had had concessions in the past on that account.

It was unanimously decided that Crs Perry, Austin and Mulcahy, together with a ratepayer from each riding, Messrs Tulloch, Giles and S. E. Baxter, be a committee to confer With Mr H. M. Rushworth, M.P., on his. return, and have the matter laid before the Cabinet, and that no effort be spared to right the wrong.