The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-03-11

Especial to CoaStland NeWSpa-
pers)-In his second state wide
news conference held Friday pri-
marily for weekly and small daily
newspapers, Governor Luther H.
Hodges discussed his views on
many current state issues and
urged the press to keep "our citi
zens fully informed on our gov
ernmental problems"
The Governor said he made his
recent report to the people as a
means of calling the public's at
tention to pending legislative is
sues. II believe that if the people
are told the facts, they will re-
spond to this challenge as they
have always responded. We in
government need the understand
ing and constructive help of all
our citizens in solving the major
problems now facing our State"
For example, he added, proper
solution of the. water problem in
wolves public education of the
many factors involved in water
conservation and the growing
seriousness of dwindling water re-
sources. The press can do much
to dig into the facts in each COM
munity, county or section of the
state and inform their readers on
what decisions must be made in
this vital public matter.
"The uses of water are increas-
ing ever more rapidly in all cate
gories," Hodges continued. more
and more shortages of water will
occur unless it's misuses are
checked and sound principles of
conservation and proper use are
adopted. The saving of water, the
proper channeling of it, and the
prevention of huge losses have be-
me a major problem of public
n crest and concern. Everyone
- has studied the water prob
m agrees that it will be difficult
to achieve any reasonable solution
until the general public under
stands the seriousness of the
problem"
The Governor also discussed
briefly the per capita income in
North Carolina as compared with
other states. In 1853, North Caro-
lima ranked 44th in per capita in
come as among the 48 states with
South Carolina, Alabama, Arkan-
sas, and Mississippi being the on
ly states in which per capita in
come was lower. Some of the rea-
sons which have been offered in
explanation include the excessive
number of small marginal farms,
the comparatively few industries
which makes use of highly paid
skilled labor, high percentage of
Negroes in it's population, and the
unusually large ratio of school
age persons in its population. The
Governor pointed out that the
large number of young people
makes it necessary that expendi-
lures for education be somewhat
larger than would normally be
necessary.
among the things we need to
do in North Carolina" Hodges as
serted, ais to create more local
capital and more actual individual
interest in local processing plants
who will handle the products OF
the farms and fields, as well as
from our waters which are
Astounding in seafood."
The big problem in North Caro-
lima today is fiscal, the Governor
emphasized. eve need the money
and people are willing to pay the
extra taxes if they feel that others
are paying their share of taxes,
including income taxes, and If the
Departments and Institutions
which receive appropriations are
given full value in services" On
the question of a proposed state
withholding tax, Hodges said that
he had agreed with this proposal
at first in principal, but that upon
further investigation, he believed
that it would not prove effective
or practical at this time. A study
revealed that there would be APP
oroximately 100000 refunds per
!. var at a cost of approximately
~ 10000 per year to administer.
y BY adding etxra personnel we
believe that the Department OF
Revenue can raise as much extra
revenue at less cost to the State"
Economic, business-like admin
istration of governmental agencies
will receive a good deal OF the
Governors attention in the future.
sin my opinion, substantial econo-
mics can be effected in many
state agencies and departments. |
also believe that by doing some
long-range planning for the state,
instead of being content to think
n %xnrr. xrn1 VsC