VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1935, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS

FLOOD DAMAGE AT OKATO.

SPECIAL BOARD ADVOCATED.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Referring to Cr. Thomas’ welltimed letter, kindly permit me to suggest the forming of a “flooded area board” having jurisdiction over all lands likely to be affected, when the Stoney River coalesces with the Kihihi. Then let us have boundaries gazetted, strike a rate, raise a loan and put up-a groyne to keep the Stoney in its place. Safety first! What price your farm?—l am, etc., EX-COUNTY. CHAIRMAN.

P.S.: Don’t I know the dear , old Kihihi! I once carted pigs to Drake’s factory at Fitzroy after Julian with his heavy waggon had gone through the bridge at the factory, and the Taranaki. County Council was too poor to rebuild. I went through the ford in the darkness, with the river in flood. I struck a boulder and the trace chain broke. I. jumped into the river, got to Robinson’s, woke him up and borrowed a chain- 1 got out of the river all right, murmuring “Good old Kihihi,” but if the two;factories (Stoney River, and Oxford) are washed away, well the choir won’* - 1 — chanting “Good Old Rivers."

CONDITIONS ON FARMS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Now we have, the Mortgage Bill passed and all our fortunes are made or lost, and ail the family has gone away joy-riding and: have left the Control Board to finish the job, I for one would like to see the board act quickly and send inspectors round—good ones I mean. If they inspect the milking sheds and yards and water I think they will find some of them a disgrace. In the dry weather the dust will blow into the milk and infect it, and there is a lack of water to keep things clean. In wet weather there is the mud and slime, and I am sure that no matter how much, water you may use the smell is there. The farmers are forced to build an up-to-date factory. Why not start on these farms so the farmers can give the factory clean milk. All you need do is to keep the milking machines : clean. There is more second grade milk with hand milking than with clean machines, and I am sure that if the people were to see the conditions around; some of the yards they-would not want the butter and cheese. -■ „ - I have seen the dairies in other parts of the world. There is none of the mud and slime and what not that you have here. The proof is in, the papers when you see all other butter and cheese making better prices than ours. I know it is getting talked about in Britain by people who have been here on visits or who have farmed here and gone back. I think the sooner New Zealand dairy farmers start and make the ■ sheds and surroundings clean, with -plenty of water, and send a few photos Home and around New Zealand, the better it will be for everybody. I hope you will '.publish this letter or stir up the farmers, for the longer it is left the more the news will spread. I am speaking from what I know is right, and the proof is right on the farms. I know that it is talked about in Britain.—l am, etc., HURRY UP. Stratford, April 9.

FLOOD DAMAGE TOBACCO. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Passing through your . delightful town I was surprised indeed to learn that the Government had refused to grant a “drawback” of duty in, respect to tobacco, damaged and destroyed by your recent flood. The duty on tobacco,in this country is particularly heavy (about lid per two ounces, I believe). Now to assess local tobacco retailing at Is 5d with, duty and sales tax amounting to jld is altogether unreasonable, . and , when destroyed, every law of justice demands consideratioh, If\a ! drawback of duty 'is. against the present law, then surely.it is not beyond the power of man to amend the law? , . ■ •... ■ , • , ; s - / ’ Meanwhile, I would suggest that retailers suffering loss should apply-for a rebate in regard to the duty paid,-such rebate to come out of “unauthorised expenditure.” It is possible in law to make payments - under • this heading, for it will have been noticed that your Prime Minister and friends have left for the Old Country before a monetary grant was voted in your House of Representatives.—l am, etc., i VISITOR. New Plymouth, April 9.