“TRIBUTE TO REFORM”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 497, 29 October 1928, Page 11

“TRIBUTE TO REFORM”

THE WARD MILLIONS I (Special to THE SUN) TE AWAMUTU, Saturday. “Local body rates are the greatest burden placed on the farmer,” said Mr. J. C. Rolleston, Reform for Waitomo, in his address to the electors at Te Awamutu on Friday evening. But now, he continued, roads were regarded as national enterprises, so that national contributions by way of petrol tax are made available for construction and maintenance of good roads—roads that would be useful for tho town motorists and farmers alike. The petrol tax was estimated to produce £750,000 annually for roads, and this would alter the ratio payable by farmers for roading. A reduction in the tax from 4d to 2d was supported by members of the United and Labour parties, but the farmers could thank the Reform Government for fixing the tax at 4d. The allocation of the tax might be criticised, but it must be realised that the scheme was in the interests of the farmers. One provision was that portion of the tax must bo utilised, to ease the rates upon land. Dealing with the land question, the candidate said he always maintained the Government’s first duty was to keep on the land the men who are at present there. The next step was to bring in unprQductive land. The bursting up of largo estates would not benefit any large section of the community. In the past six years war debts totalling nearly £10,000,000 had been paid off. The speaker said it was sound business to pay off the war loans, and it was also sound business to borrow for reproductive works. Speaking of Sir Joseph Ward's statement that he could, within a year, land £70,000,000 in this Dominion, the speaker said it was a compliment to the Reform Government for keeping the Dominion’s credit in London in such a splendid condition. Concluding his address, Mr. Rolleston said the Reform Party had given and would give legislation that was in the best interests of the settlers. He would follow Mr. Coates, who was a very able man and a good leader. A very good meeting was concluded by the passing of a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Rolleston.