Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1939, Page 6

Readers Write

[Readers are invited to send letters for publication in this Column. A letter should he written in ink on one side of the paper, and must bear the name of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but as a Guarantee of good faith.]

The increasing interest being taken in the preservation of New Zealand’s bush must be gratifying to all who

fiave the real welfare of their country at heart. Yet, in

DESTRUCTION OF BUSH.

spite of continued appeals, the destruction of forest on steep country goes 'on apace in the lesser known parts of the district.

The beautiful stretch of forested slopes which constituted the Onerahi water reserve and lies at the back of Waikaraka and Parua Bay, is little known because of its isolation. Yet, from this wonderful scenery, so vital to us as a heritage for the future, dense clouds of smoke have rolled during the past few days. Surely these fires are not intentional! Possibly you could ascertain, for bush preservation purposes, the state of the position in regard to this reserve. The survey mentioned at a recent meeting is certainly long overdue. —“TOTARA.”

A paragraph in your issue of the 7th inst, under the heading, “No-Rate Threat,” is liable to give a wrong

impression, and I would request the indulgence of space to outline the

HOSPITAL RATING..

position. The remit submitted to the Northern Wairoa SubProvincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union was sponsored by the Upper Wairoa branch and, in brief, requested the Dominion executive to conduct a plebiscite of all branches, with a view to ascertaining whether members generally would support a refusal to pay in order to bring about the removal of the injustice of levying rates on land for hospital purposes. The remit was enthusiastically supported by delegates attending the meeting and was unanimously adopted. In supporting the remit, Mr Finlayson, of Maungaturoto, stressed the need for organisation, and he subsequently moved a motion to the effect that the remit be sent forward to the Dominion executive with a suggestion that the question of necessary preliminary organisation be given immediate consideration. The motion was unanimously carried. It is unfortunate that the word “strike” has crept into press reports, as there is a marked difference between strike action and the method of refusing to pay suggested in the remit. Strike action usually involves the holding up of production, and I, personally, take leave to doubt whether, in these perilous times, any section of the community could justify such action, but we of the Upper Wairoa claim ample precedent and justification for refusing to continue paying a levy which involves hardship and injustice to the farming community.

In this connection it will perhaps be sufficient to mention the action of Britain in refusing to continue payment of war debts to the United States when such payment involved the levying of an unjust charge upon her people. To come nearer home, legislation of recent years has clearly established the principle that when payment involves hardship or injustice to a section of the community the matter must be adjusted. It should be emphasised that the method of negotiation has been well tried but has failed to bring about the removal of the injustice of levying rates on land for hospital maintenance. '

We now go forward with the new proposal confident of success, and this for three main reasons: (1) We believe in the justice of our cause; (2) we believe farmers will unite and stand four-square on this question in a way that will surprise even the most pessimistic; (3) we believe we shall have the support of that large section of all classes of the community who abhor the perpetration of injustice in any form. —A. A. McLAUCHLAN (President, Upper Wairoa Branch, N.Z. Farmers’ Union).