RURAL HOUSING SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23767, 21 September 1940, Page 12

RURAL HOUSING SCHEME

RATEPAYERS' pBJECTIONS Hf [prom ottr own correspondent] WHAkUtaNE, Friday By a three to one mjajority, many of those present not voting, a large meeting of county ratepayers at Taneatua expressed the opinion '.that the rural housing scheme was not'&n the interests of the ratepayers in general, and called upon the Whakatane County Council not to proceed with it fin its present form.

The county chairman, Mr. J. L. Burnett, explained that a special rate had to be struck as a Government security. It was proposed that the* Whakatane County should obtain a rnral housing loan of £oo,ooo, the speciial security rato being fixed at 31-40djin the £l. He considered it was a s:titicere move by the Government to improve the housing conditions in the ciountry and thereby encourage workers Uo stay on the land.. ' . Speakers claimed that to\ impose a rate as a guarantee for the* few who would benefit was .unfair. li 4 was suggested . instead that _ the Government should deal direct with the 11 , farmers through the State Advances Corporation instead of asking tho council to act as guarantor. Mr. Burnett said the council would proceed without recourse to a poll of the ratepayers. The should not assume that the scheme wias going to be a failure. *