LAND PROTECTION

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 121, 16 February 1931, Page 11

LAND PROTECTION

Hutt River Board’s Policy RATING QUESTIONS Position Explained For some time past, it is stated, criticism of the policy of the Hutt River Board, and dissatisfaction at the system of rating, have been expressed by the ratepayers’ associations of Moera and Waiwhetu. An invitation was therefore extended by these two associations to Mr. F. S. Hewer and Mr. A. J. Gearing, chairman and clerk respectively of the board, to attend a meeting of the combined executives in order to state the board’s policy, hear grievances. ' and answer questions. For two hours on Friday Mr. Hewer and Mr. Gearing ran the gauntlet, and at the end were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The chairman of the meeting was Mr. A. J. Nicholls. “There has been some criticism of the board from ratepayers of Moera. Waiwhetu, and Petone,” said Mr. Hewer. “I think it is largely due to men who may just not realise the work the board does. The board in the past has been too modest concerning its achievements. Probably the present board is the same. “The work the board does is, in the first place, to give protection from floods by the Hutt River. For this purpose it operates from the estuary to Silverstream. Every time there is a flood the river changes its course, and the work of the board is to get the river under control. That has been its policy in the past, and is its policy now. As the river in the past used to wander all over the district, to gain that control has been very difficult. All the work that is being done is a link in the chain to get this control. In the board’s opinion the best way of controlling the river is to plant willows along the banks, and that is what the board is doing in increasing quantities. Aid is given by the construction of stone weirs and boom groynes. “Added to its work in the river, the board has been given control over the creeks and streams in the district. I may say these were wished on to the board. It did not want them as its concern is primarily with the river. “Only a Fresh.”

“At the present time when there is a flood no one knows anything about it. People as they pass on their way to work say. ‘lt’s only a fresh.’ That is all they know or tffink. So well has the board got the river under control in the upper reaches that you do not get the floods today. “There is no question but that the erection of the stop-bank has been making and the saving of the Hutt Valley. It may be necessary in the future to extend that stop-bank to the upper reaches to stop flooding in the lower reaches. The river, too, is regrading, and but for the removal of shingle you would find the bed of the river would rise, and thereby flood the lower reaches again. Every foot you can get the bed lower in the lower reaches is making the river safer.” Purcliase of Land. In answer to another question Mr. Hewer said the board had been purchasing land in order to get absolute control of the river front. This would prevent the board having to pay compensation to landowners whenever it was deemed advisable to operate there. Ownership of the land also enabled the board to fence the river and so protect its willow plantations against wandering stock. Enormous damage has been done through cows eating young willows. The land, too, was bought cheaply and as opportunity offered. In the continual process of reclamation this land tended to become more valuable. It acted to the benefit of ratepayers by bringing in rents on lease, thereby reducing the amounts to be secured from ratepayers on rates. The present rents amounted to about £lOOO. Gear Island was~bought by the board for £5OOO. The Government valuation is now £17,500, and the board gets in rents from leasing part of it £958. That was not a bad investment for the ratepayers. But for those rents £lOOO more would hare to be obtained by rates. Opposition to Loans. Mr. Hewer set his mind strongly against paying for the land purchased by raising loans, instead.of out of the board's general account. “One of the chief difficulties in the district,” he said, “is that so many loans have been raised, crippling with interest. If the board had adopted the policy of raising loans ratepayers w«uld be paying three times the amount in rates they are to-day.” “IVe don’t deny,” said one member, “that the board has done wonderful work. We only question the method of collection. We do not like the board’s policy of purchasing land without consulting the ratepayers.” ■ Board's Policy.

“The policy of the board,” replied Mr. Hewer, “is to safeguard the ratepayers and see that they will not have any claims made against it. And there have been no claims made —not a single one.”

“How much of the Valley did the stopbank make?” Mr. Hewer was asked. “All of it,” he replied. “Well, then, how is it that the whole of the Hutt Valley does not pay rates? No work has been done in Moera since we came out here, and yet we are paying the highest rates. The main work is being done in the upper reaches. Shingle is being removed in the lower reaches and you are being paid for it. Those who have suffered most are paying the highest.” The classes of rating, it was explained by Mr. Hewer, are determined b.v Statute and the board accepts no responsibility for that. “We get no benefit,” said a member. “The land was here when we were brought here. No work has been done for us. We admit that if the board had not operated earlier we would not have been brought here, for there may have been no land.” “I heard you are going past Silverstream.” said another member. Mr. Gearing: The board is trying to extend its operations past there. It would be in the interests of everybody if it could. Money Spent in Moera. Mr. Hewer emphatically disagreed with the statement that no money had been spent in Moera and Waiwhetu “More money has been spent here in the last two years than in the whole pre vious history of the board. The dredging of the Waiwhetu Stream twelve months ago cost the board £lOOO. It has also been maintaining waterways and creeks in the district since June, 1926.” A Flat Rate. ■Why was not a flat rate struck for •.he whole of the Valley?” the question was asked. “It is not the board which fixes tae classes,” replied Mr. Hewer. “The board cannot alter it or get away from it The classes are paid according to the direct danger.” He was qui.e ready that the board should give consideration to a petition from the ratepayers to have the classification altered. The position in Petone that only a portion of the ratepayers in the borough paid rates to the River Board was considered unfair. To a question that the boar! should do something to the banks of the creeks and streams Mr. Hewer said it might be news to them, but the board was concerned with eleaning out the beds only. “The board does no: plant willows on the banks of creeks.” He mentioned that the Waiwhetu and Awamutu streams appeared to be dumping grounds for tins, sheeting iron, tanks, e’c. Asked whether it could not ceisa some of its operations, Mr. Hewer said the board could take no risk that might lead to floods. On the question of reducing rates he said; “I will make no promise about reduction of rates. If you are dissatisfied you can put me out at the next election. That ia how I look at it,”