RURAL HOUSING

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 355, 25 October 1940, Page 2

RURAL HOUSING

REJECTED BY WHAKATANE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT UNFAIR CRITICISM At "a meeting of the Whakatane County Council, it was unanimously decided to have nothing to do with the Rural Housing Scheme.. In accord with notice tabled at the last council meeting, Cr. McCready moved the rescission of the resolutions favouring the scheme and the chairman, Cr. Burnett, immediately seconded the motion, states the Beacon. ;

“it has always been the policy of this council to take the ratepayers into its confidence,” said Cr. Burnett, “and with the Rural Housing Scheme there wa-s no exception. You will remember that I agreed to address meetings to advise the ratepayers of the details of the scheme. 1 addressed those meetings', at all of which there was "an overwhelming majority against the scheme.

“Since then there has been a good deal of criticism, and 1 have not escaped that. I have no complaint, but much of it was unfair and much bordered on the personal.

"The ratepayers have had ampie time to form an opinion of the scheme,” Cr. Burnett continued, “and we have had no expressions of support for it. From that we have to take it that the ratepayers oppose the scheme. As we have to give-it a burial, I suggest that it be as decent an interment as possible. I will therefore put the resolution.”

Cr. McCready added that the Government was do'dging its responsibilities. The housing problem was essentially- a national question and should not have to be shouldered by the ratepayers. If the council had adopted the scheme it would have meant the establishment of a precedent. It was a very wise action to turn t lie schemedown, and it was certainly the wish of the ratepayers.

The motion was carried without dissent.