HUTT RIVER RATES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 74, 20 December 1929, Page 8

HUTT RIVER RATES

DISSATISFACTION AT PETONE WILFORD SETTLEMENT ACTS The recently set up “Petone Payers of Hutt River Board Rates Committee'’ met' last night, when the grievances of the' residents of the eastern part of the Petone borough (the Wilford Settlement) in regard to the distribution of River Board rates were once more discussed. The meeting, which was presided over by Mr. V. A. Noble, was held in the Wilford School. Councillors H. O. Orsborn and C. P. Brockelbank, of the Petone Borough Council, were present. The grievances arose out of the fact that only residents of this portion of the Petone borough were forced to pay rates to the River Board, and these residents were desirous that the Petone Borough Council should pay the rates, and that the amount should be taken out of the General Fund. Should that be done it was contended that it would save the. necessity of the setting up of a commission to inquire into the position of the residents.

The chairman reported that since the last meeting the committee had sat on several occasions, and had discussed the matter very, thoroughly. Deputations had also waited on the Petone Borough Council, and on the chairman of the Hutt River Board (Mr. W. T. Strand). "In connection with the deputation that waited on the Petone Borough Council” said Mr. Noble, "I might state that though the council appeared to be sympathetic, and recognised that an injustice existed, they were not prepared to go. further with the matter. However, a totally different aspect appeared when Mr. Williams and myself waited on the chanman of the Hutt River Board. I brought forward the negleced state of the western arm of the river, and we were assured that the cleaSing out of the arm would shortly be undertaken. The suggestions placed before Mr. Strand were to get the board to agree to the abolition of the rate on this area, and failing this, to be placed in class ‘C.’ ” Mr. Noble explained that the last suggestion would have reduced the rate by about half. Mr. Strand’s reply, it was stated, was to the effect that the board had nd power to accede to the request, the matter being fixed by Statute. At the same time, he assured Mr. Noble that the Hutt River Board would be quite willing for the Petone Borough Council to pay the amount at present collected from the eastern ratepayers. In conclusion, Mr. Noble stated that, in view of the Hutt River Board agreeing to the payment of the amount collected from this area being paid by the Petone Borough Council, it was the intention of the Committee to write to the Council to reconsider their decision. .Failing a satisfactory reply it was suggested that residents should petition Parliament to have the injustice removed by having the River Board boundaries readjusted to include the whole of the flat area in the Hutt Valley. After a number. of residents had expressed their views regarding the rates, It was decided to take the concluding portion of the Chairman’s report as a resolution. This was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. ' It-was also decided o ask the Committee to interview the Lower Hutt Civic League to consider the possibilities of nominating one, two, or three candidates from the district to contest the forthcoming Rivog Board election.