ASHLEY RIVER RATING

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27446, 4 September 1954, Page 2

ASHLEY RIVER RATING

RANGIORA BOROUGH PROTEST

“LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCE” ALLEGED

“I believe that the Rangiora Borough has a legitimate grievance—it is paying a levy to this board which is quite out of proportion to the benefit received," said Mr C. Morgan Williams at a meeting of the North Canterbury Catchment Board yesterday. Mr Williams was commenting on the finance committee’s report to the board, which said that the borough had protested against the incidence of the Ashley river rate as increased funds were now available through the revaluation of the Rangidra county. The chairman of the committee, Mr T. W. Preston, said his committee felt a reply should be sent to the council setting out the full facts. The chairman of the board, Mr R. M. D. Johnson, said that the matter went back to early last year when the Ashley river had broken out. Some work had already been done but much still remained to be done before all the damage then caused could be made good. The .basis of the protest, said Mr Williams was that more than a year ago the borough had been told that the great increase on their rates was largely due to their area being revalued more recently than the rural „ area. The impression had been given that when the county was revalued they might expect a reduction. There had since been a great increase in the levy from the county but there had been no reduction in the amount required from the borough. The borough had a legitimate grievence. It was paying a levy quite out of proportion to the benefit received. Rangiora, he said, was getting practically no benefit from work done by the board. The danger to the borough was through the river having been artificially constricted by the Highway Boards and the Railways Department. “I don’t think that there is any record of Rangiora having been seriously flooded from the Ashley,” he continued. The threat to the town in 1953 was entirely due to the flood waters being backed up by the railway embankment. When the embankment had given way the danger had been removed. “I think their protest is quite justifiable.” Mr E. J. Stalker said it would take £50,000 to restore the damage caused in the last Ashley flood. The Government had declined to make a grant, so that it had been necessary to raise’ the local contribution towards the repairs over a period of four years. As much work still had to be done, to reduce the rate in the £ now would place the board in the position of endangering people in the lower areas. The board, he said, had no power to strike a different rate in an area that had been revalued more recently than in another. “I think when the the whole facts are set out to the borough the council will appreciate the position.” “If these people are going to be let out the cost will be deflected on to the rural areas which are surely paying enough now,” said Mr H. H. Petrie. It might be cold comfort to the borough, but the county was paying a much greater proportion of the rate, said Mr Preston. The levy on the county in 1953-54 had produced £2950 while in the current year the return from the county would be £ 5370.