AWATERE WATER SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23111, 29 August 1940, Page 5

AWATERE WATER SCHEME

VALIDATING LEGISLATION PASSED LONG DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE fFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 28. The difficulties met by the Awatere County Council, Marlborough, in finding sufficient money to finance a water supply scheme in its district, and the position of one man who wished to be removed from the rating district, occupied the attention of the House of Representatives for almost two hours during consideration of the Local Legislation Bill to-day. Three clauses in the bill relating to the subject were, after much argument, passed without amendment. “It appears that if ever a scheme needed to be investigated, eveiy by a royal commission, this one does," said Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton). “The whole thing seems to be most irregular, for it is now to cost £II,OOO more than the original estimate, and there seems to have been absolute bungling all through, for the council never seems to have been complying with the law of the country, with the result that we are now asked to pass validating and authorising legislation which should not have been necessary.” A special rating area had been created to pay off the loan raised for the water supply scheme, Mr Kyle said, and one man, who had a natural water supply and could derive no benefit from the scheme, had applied tcK be left .out of the area. Unfortunately, his ‘ objection was not entered at the right time, and his property was included in the area, with the result that he was liable for ra'es. That did not appear to be fair. Mr E. P. Meachen (Government, Marlborough) said that much of what Mr Kyle had said was wrong. The fact was that there had been a good deal of difficulty over the scheme—Mr Kyle could call it bungling if he liked —and most of this had arisen oyer arrangements made for the inclusion of additional land in the water supply area at any time. The scheme was just about completed, and would be of great advantage to the people of the district. The council had made a technical mistake with regard to its powers, said the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry), but it did not seem right, just for that reason, to hold the bill up. and thus render a disadvantage to the farmers of the district. An amendment moved by ,the Opposition with the object of enabling the objector’s position to be considered by a Magistrate, was defeated, and the bill was passed.