RURAL HOUSING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21957, 8 May 1941, Page 4

RURAL HOUSING

Ratepayer Protests The proposed rural housing scheme drew a protest from a Levels County ratepayer (Mrs J. Broadhurst) who wrote to yesterday’s meeting of the Council stating that she noticed by the newspapers that the Council intended considering the striking of a further rate for the support of the rural housing scheme. After setting out the writer’s private position, the letter continued: “As for the rural housing scheme, I understand that it is to build cottages for employees, etc., and I fall to see why ratepayers other than farmers should be called on to contribute to this. Farmers have plenty of money with which to buy new cars every year or two, also plenty to purchase racehorses or bet on the totalisator, and although I have nothing to say against these things if farmers can afford them, I cannot see why we should be penalised to pay for them. Nearly every farmer in South Canterbury owns or part owns a racehorse and drives expensive cars, and I am sure I cannot see them subsidising a fund to build me a new shed which I require very badly. The great trouble with our farmers is that they have acquired a habit of running to the Government for everything, and it is more than time they learned to stand on their own feet and improve their own properties instead of expecting the Government to Plunket nurse them.” The chairman (Mr T. B. Garrick): I think she is barking Up the wrong The clerk (Mr G. B. Bird): The rate is purely as security for loans, and will probably never be levied. The clerk was instructed to write explaining the position to Mrs Broadhurst.