DERATING FARM LANDS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 10 (Supplement)

DERATING FARM LANDS

AGITATION IN WAIKATO. NON-PAYMENT ADVOCATED. Strong opposition to the rating of farm lands for the maintenance of roads was expressed at a meeting of ratepayers held in Hamilton last week. Mr. E. M. Masters presided over an attendance of about 120. The meeting was the outcome of a gathering held in Hamilton a fortnight before, when a committee was formed to submit a report on the subject of derating. ’ On behalf of the committee, Mr. F. C. Roberts submitted the following resolutions, which were carried after discussion:— 1 . •

“As the county councils were unaware when rates were, struck for the current year that any action to organise passive resistance to the collection of road rates was contemplated, and as a number of ratepayers have already paid their rates, we suggest that ratepayers who are able to pay road rates for the current year without incurring hardship should do so.” “Where current rates can only be paid at the expense of incurring hardship and deprivation of necessities, we recommend that steps be taken, by the appointment of a central derating committee, to ensure protection of such ratepayers in the event of action being taken to enforce payment of rates.” “That organisation work be at once undertaken to inaugurate a campaign of passive resistance to the collection of road rates for the ensuing year.” “That under, existing economic circumstances we are absolutely and definitely opposed to the imposition of the 10 per cent, penalty, believing that it is an additional hardship on those unable to pay.” Mr. G. Smith, Huntly, said that, as a member of the Waikato County Council, he opposed the second resolution. Although the council had £lO,OOO or £12,000 outstanding in rates, it had not unduly pressed a ratepayer who was in difficulty. In no case had a ratepayer been put off his farm on account of non-payment of rates.

Mr. P. Hawke (Hinuera) said that any member of a council who was opposed to derating should resign his seat and recontest it Mr. Smith said that if the resolution was carried he would convene a representative meeting of ratepayers in his riding and he would obtain a mandate from them or resign. Messrs. W. Boyd (Matangl), G. T. Crawley (Te Awamutu), R. H. Feisst (Cambridge), J. H. Dent (Te Uku), G. Bowen (Huntly West), T. ■S. Sowerby (Taupiri), R. G. Young (Gordonton), D. B. Higgins (Matamata), P. Hawke (Hinuera), L; Crowley (Ohaupo), C. Parsons F. C. Roberts (Te Kowhai) and J. H. Furniss (Huntly West) were elected a committee to organise meetings in their respective districts with a view to electing district committees and a permanent central committee. Mr. Boyd moved: “That this meeting of ratepayers is gravely alarmed at the apathetic and indifferent ■ attitude of county ; councils generally toward total derating of farm, lands for reading purposes, and requests all councillors who are not prepared to press for the removal of the present unjust and inequitable system to resign their seats forthwith.” The motion was carried.