HOT AIR SCHEME

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 68, Issue 5943, 15 May 1944, Page 4

HOT AIR SCHEME

MORRINSVILLE COMMENT In view of the widespread interesi taken in the question of hospital derating, the following letter which appeared in the Morrinsville Star is published in the Courier:— I request that I may, through youi columns, put to my fellow ratepayers, the ultimate end of such a hot aii scheme as that fathered by the Farmers’ Union and full-brother to the boycott scheme that died at birth. In order to save contentious argument 1 agree that the hospital rate is an unjust one and over a period of years constitutional methods have been tried to amend same, but like the church tithes of Old England it still goes on. I am not attempting to raise a smokescreen of war, of the need for the care of the sick and needy, or production, but rather how it will affect the Piako County and ratepayers.

We take it that the whole or majority of the trustees of the county are elected under the pledge that they will not strike a hospital rate or agree to have such taken out of general funds; and that the Waikato Hospital Board levy on the county for the 1944-45 year is £12,000 is made for 1945-46. The position would then bo a recoverable debt owing by the Piako County to Waikato Hospital Board of £24,000 and interest on £12,000 at 4 per cent, total debt £24,480. If the county’s affairs were allowed to get into this state, how can Mi IT. Wagstaff qualify his statement that he did not think the county would be any worse off. because the Government would not be game to take action ? We may leave the gameness out and definitely state that action would be taken by the Government appointing a commissioner or through the usual court proceedings. I ask you, fellow ratepayers, could the county’s solicitor defend such a debt? Now we come to the county’s administration officers. What action would they take to safeguard the county. To me there is only one action they could takt, as the raising of £24,480 out of county funds or subsidies would have a crippling effect on the whole of the county. They naturally would ask of the commissioner or Court for time and power to strike a rate or demand for that amount, as the only equitable manner of payment.

Examine this hot air scheme from a political point of view. To me it is 100 per cent in favour of the present Government, and would if carried into practice, have the county, bound hand and foot, in its hands, giving it a glorious opportunity to start with local body reform in one of the wealthiest counties in the Dominion. It does not contain one redeeming factor in aid of the ratepayers. I would call it a political smokescreen —not a gold brick. To harass the farmer still further, and deprive him of the little freedom ho still retains would be the ultimate result. The ratepayers present at the Meeting at Waitoa, whether supporters or oppon-

ents, must have been impressed by the action taken by Mr D. Johnson, chairman of the Piako County Council, when he put honour and constitutional methods before self-attainment. Let ns as ratepayers copy his example and at the coming elections retain our honour and freedom. JOHN D. MACKAY. Waihou.