SWAMP DRAINAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 15

SWAMP DRAINAGE.

DEPUTATION AT KAITAIA. VITAL PROBLEM OF RATING. MINISTER PROMISES TO HELP. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") KAITAIA, Thursday. One of the largest deputations that aas ever come before a Minister visiting the Northland met the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands, last evening in Kaitaia. Mr. H. M. Rush-worthy member for the district, said of all problems in the Bay of. Islands electorate that of Kaitaia swamp drainage was the greatest. "You have the future of this district in your hands," he said, addressing the Minister. '.'The settlers in the swamp drainage area have formed themselves into a'committee and the matter of rating is of the utmost importance to them." It should be explained that the Kaitaia swamp is one of the biggest drainage problems in the Dominion. According to the swamp drainage report for the year ended March 31, 1929, the cost of the drainage works in the Kaitaia drainage district stands at £275,000, including interest and accrued maintenance and work not finished. It was originally estimated to cost £90,000. Not one of the Government sections had been thrown open for selection and it is a question whether any selectors would take them up until the question of the drainage rate has been settled. Revenue Restricted. The total income derived by the owners of farms in this area is about £05,000. There is a population within the area of approximately 1200 persons (including children), about 615 of whom •'are in the town area. It is evident, therefore, that if the full drainage Tate be struck a large number of settlers will 'be unable to pay. Quite a number at present find it hard to pay county and hospital board rates. Mr. T. Houston, chairman of the executive committee of settlers, said"the Minister should be thanked- for keeping two promises, one was setting ttp a committee of inquiry and the second that he had come'to visit the district. Committee Asked For. Mr. Houston was certain that the present Government were doing their best to help the settlers. They were not asking the Minister for anything unreasonable, but to fix the rate .at the lowest possible stun. He asked the Minister to set up a committee so that when maintenance had to be carried out settlers would have charge of their own drains. Major Mackesy said the district had practically reached its borrowing limit. Settlers were on a very thin edge on account of lack of capital. Clouds were on the horizon -and settlers were losing their punch. The whole future depended on what:.the Government was prepared to doi - ; - Minister in Reply. -.... ■ '1 :j;ecognise .that as. you ihave come in such, large numbers this is & most important, matter to you," said Mr. Forbes in reply. Tie Minister went on to say that the inquiry committee he had set up had been given an entirely free hand. He had received its report just before leaving Wellington. The question of writing off money was one for the Minister of Finance. So far he had not been able to place the whole matter before Cabinet. As Minister of Xands he wished to visit the district. "When I go back to Wellington I shall see that something is _.done at the earliest possible moment," said Mr. Forbes, "because I Tecognise the urgency of the matter." The Minister said if he could get Cabinet to do what he thought should be done in regard to Kaitaia swamp he felt sure it would be a very fair decision as far-as settlers were concerned. (Applause.) Regarding maintenance and control, Mr. Forbes said when the*' Government operations finished a drainage board should be set up to control the area. He believed a great deal of production would come off the area. His sympathy was with the man on the land. When he saw the Minister of.Finance he would do. Ms best to represent the settlers' case favourably to his. (Prolonged applause.) An expression of thanks was earned amidst enthusiasm.