Middle North Farmers Back Up Mangonui Attitude On Rating

Northern Advocate, 2 December 1944, Page 4

Middle North Farmers Back Up Mangonui Attitude On Rating

(Special) KAIKOHE, This Day Four resolutions of support lor the Mangcnui County Council in its lone fight against hospital rating have been passed at meetings of farmers and electors called in the Middle North in the past two days. The meetings were convened by the Farmers’ Union branches in Kaeo, Kerikeri. Kaikohe and Pakaraka, the first two on Wednesday morning and evening, the second two yesterday afternoon and evening. Purpose of the meetings was to hear Mr. R. C. Kruse, president of the Wellsforcl F.U. branch, and organiser of ihe Farmers’ Union derating campaign. Mr. Kruse will speak at Kawakawa this evening, at Broadwood on Monday night, at Oue (South Hokianga) on Tuesday af-

ternoon, and at Waimamaku on Tuesday night, after which he will travel through the Waipoura Forest to the Dargaville area. Mr. Kruse told his audience in the Masonic hall, Kaikohe, yesterday afternoon, that a week ago ho had gone to Kaitaia to tell the farmers there that the Auckland F.U. executive was solidly behind them in their anti-rating movement. He explained that the Mangonui County Council had voted by four votes to three not to strike a hospital rate and that, to consolidate support for the councillors elected on a pledge not to strike the rate, a petition was now being taken round the county. Petitions Being Circulated

In this petition, the three councillors who were opposed to the decision not to strke the hospital rate, were being asked to resign or cause another election—and Mr. Kruse said they had all intimated that, if sufficient signatures were obtained on the petition, they would be prepared to do so.

In Rodney also, where Ihe county council had declined the Farmers’ Union request not to strike a hospital rate, a petition was being taken round, seeking support for a demand against the striking of the rate in June next.

In Kerikeri on Wednesday night, said Mr. Kruse, it was made obvious that the farmers were whole-heartedly behind their riding councillor’s plan to circulate a petition requesting the Bay of Islands County Council to refrain from striking a hospital rate next June. The F.U. and the D.P.A,

Mr. Kruse had some strong words of advice for his listeners regarding loyal support for the Farmers’ Union, which was being threatened (and not for the first—or last—lime) by red herrings. He denied that there was disunity between the Dominion F.U. and the Auckland executive, which had recently reglslered (as it must do by law) as the “United Farmers’ Federation (Auckland) IncorporatI ed.” All that would happen now, he said, was that the New Zealand body would have to ask Auckland’s permission to use the same registered title, but there were alternatives available. The Auckland and Dominion leaders, he maintained, were very far from being at variance. Answering a question from Mr. R. C. Douglas, president of the Kaikohe D.P.A. branch, Mr. Kruse said the D.P.A. organisation did not have the sanction of the Farmers’ Union, and definitely not of the federation leaders. He quoted Messrs. Horrobin and Mulholland as having said that the D.P.A. would have to come into the federation just like any other group of farmers. The F.U., he said, had discussed a federation of farmers long before the D.P.A. had been formed. Back Up Mangonui “Paratroops”

After Mr. Kruse had answered a number' of questions, the president of the Bay of Islands F.U. sub-provincial executive (Mr. J. W. Jones) made a plea for definite support of Mangonui, which was fighting, a battle for all farmers. “They are paratroops in the forefront of the battle,” he said, “and we should let them know that support and reinforcements are on the way.” He urged that all local farmers make an endeavour to persuade their riding councillors not to consent to the striking of a hospital rate next June. A motion congratulating Mangonui County Council on its rating stand was passed on the motion of Mr. H.. S. Eslick, seconded by Mr. J. Orr. Mr. R. C. Douglas then suggested circulating a petition in the Bay of Islands, and it was finally resolved that the meeting form itself into a committee to press for councillors’ agreement with the non-striking of hospital rates, and as an alternative, to arrange for circulation of a petition. Ladies of the W.D.F.U. served a pleasant afternoon tea after the meeting.