TAIHAPE'S POSITION IN RANGITIKEI COUNTY.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 February 1918, Page 4

TAIHAPE'S POSITION IN RANGITIKEI COUNTY.

In responding to the toast of “The Farmers” at the Tradesmen’s Association meeting on Monday night Mr Henry O’Callaghan delivered an interesting little speech, during whiclTTie gave some details which would, perhape, surprise those present. The Rangitikei County was the'largest in New Zealand; Te Kapua, Erewhon and Awarua Riding held a «third of the wealth of the County. When the Upper Wangaehu Road District was merged into the county this preponderence would be greatly enhanced* Taihape, they must bear in mind, was the dead centre of this enormously wealthy district, and had a right to be recognised as such; it was already the largest town in the county. A third of the whole rates collected in the County (£7000) came from this end of the district. There was a matter the Tradesmen’s Association could well take in hand, and that was the hospital levies which "were going toWanganui. To his mind it was absurd not to Hospital Board here £3OOO in levies were drawn out of the County Council, not Including that contributed by boroughs, and biggest portion of this was spent is Wanganui. If not outside the scope of the activities of the Tradesmen’s As--sociation, he commended this matter for their consideration. ~