DERATING FARM LANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21577, 23 August 1933, Page 13

DERATING FARM LANDS

Sir, —Mr. 'C. H. Mellsop says ho lias , ft farmer friend who pays 8s per ton to cart manure 16 miles from railivay station. I also have a farmer friend'who pays 7s 6d per ton to cart his manure 3-1 miles from railway station. This is dono by the cream carter as a back load. There is a railway station 7\ miles distant, but out jni the carter's area. r I liese arrangements suit all parties. Mr. Mellsop says I do not in any way show that tic user of tho ( roa l should not pay for the rond maintenance entirely. This is a form of partial derating and with all farmers I realise that the users must in the future pay more toward the upkeep of the roads than they h«u c in the past. Brit this is not total derating. Mr. Mellsop says for the purpose of making new roads, opening up iresn country, or cutting up properties, a special rate on properties should be struck, as the properties would increase in value. Is this not exactly what has happened in the past? Loans were raised and rates were struck to pay the interest, etc. The land went up in value owing to the metalled roads, tno farmers sold the samo farm many times, always at, a profit, as buttcr-tat anil other produce went up in 'value, but the loans have not been paid ott >' " JiK they are usually for 37 years. Mr. Mellsop savs in effect the loans of yesterday must ho totally derated and the users of the roads must pay for them Hut the loans of to-morrow must be paid tor by a special rate over the properties benefited, as they will go up in value. He says £4 to £lO per acre wonld not really be more than justice to the "A" farmer as he has in the Years gone by paid the whole cost of' nVaking the metal roads to his property. This is incoriect, as ie balance of the loans have yet to bo paid, and the Government always subsidised metalling of feeder roads (except in war time). Mr. Mellsop sa.\s the farmers in this country are not joing to let op until New ZealandfolJows Britain's example and passes total derating. But Britain is a ninnufact ring country and her road be very small in comparison each acre pays m other forms of' taxn tion. Poos Britain rail nianuro for farmers 120 miles for 8s 4d per ton, lime free for 100 miles, and road met. 1, etc., at verv low costs, as is done > * New Zealand because we are a I'* niarv producing country and must lia\e |v help in the beginning? Will theso confe; cessions be continued in New Zealand if total derating is carriccl. F. W. Waltebs.