REPLY TO RATEPAYERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 February 1926, Page 6

REPLY TO RATEPAYERS.

SEQUEL TO PUBLIC MEETING. OPUNAKE HARBOUR SCHEME. BOARD'S POSITION OUTLINED. a sequel to the public meeting of ratepayers of the Opunake Harbour area when a resolution was passed calling on the board to suspend operations pending the receipt of a full report on the position from the Marine Department, the following letter which appeared in the outward correspondence approved at Friday’s meeting of the board was forwarded on January 21, by the chairman (Mr. T. P. Hughson) to Mr. J. S. Tosland, who officiated as chairman of the public meeting:— In connection with the construction of the Opunake harbour, we beg to state that we have carefully considered the matter submitted to us by you from the public meeting presided over by vourself. The board now reports that it has engaged Mr. H. Vickernaan, M.Se., M.1.C.E., to report on the scheme, and you have no doubt seen his report, which has been published, and you will note that it is of a much more re-assuring nature than our late engineer indicated in his last report on the eve of his resignation. It appeared very strange to us that a month earlier he had supplied us with his second comprehensive report, which showed the total cost at £60,763.

IMPROVED METHODS ADOPTED. In accordance with Mr. Vickermau’s recommendation, the board called tenders for the work and during the interval it instituted improved methods of securing stone which resulted in a much greater output of stone with the same stall’, and hence a considerable reduction in cost. Only two tenders were received for the work, and after submitting same to Mr. Vickerman, together with the particulars of the operations under the improved system, the board adopted his recommendation that the tenders be declined and the work be proceeded with -by day labour. The board is now installing an improved air compressor and drills, which it is confident will speed up the work con siderablv. and coupled with this the board has arranged with the men to work daylight tides. There are difficulties to contend with, but the men ore facing them bravely and are back ing up the board’s efforts to carry the work to a successful conclusion. FURTHER MEETING SUGGESTED. When the new drilling plant is in operation and its capabilities tested the-, board hopes to call a meeting of rate payers to place the whole matter before them, and to show them the prospective benefits which would accrue from direct snipping. May the board assure you that we have no personal axe to grind but are acting to the best of our ability for the future interest of this town and district. MR. TOSLAND’S REPLY. In reply, the following letter, dated January 27, was received from Mr. Tosland at Friday’s meeting of the board: I received your explanatory letter in reply to that forwarded by me to you conveying the ratepayers’ request. I may personally say, sir. that I could noc understand the board’s aversion to obtaining a report from an expert el the Marine Department. The board', failure and reluctance to do so may be (speaking from the expressed opinion to me of your secretary) that the Marine Department hold the powers of life or death over a harbour board, and if it said “stop” that was the end. Even, sir, if this be so, yet you as a board should have had small fears, as (]st) if the scheme is not possible within your means, then the sooner expenditure ceases, the better; (2nd) if your case is no goods, as we are led to believe, then small fear need have been exercised about the decision, as the truth would be available in spite of opinions, and sooner or later would be manifested. I believe, Mr. Hughson, that an erroneous impression exists that those resident in the country are against the harbour, to the detriment of the town This, however, is not so. Few of us, sir, are opposed to the construction of a harbour, but what we are opposed to, and rightly so, is the possibility of being saddled with a further rate through either the gratification of personal am bitions or engineers’ errors.

PUBLIC ACTION DEFENDED. it has boon stated by members of the board that there was no need for a public- meeting of ratepayers. Events proved that there was full ground for such meeting. 1 may here say that as one who called the meeting I diet so with an open mind. I attended with no preconceived idea of the outcome. Beforehand, possibly, I thought it may terminate in a recommendation for you to push on with the work. However, the* meeting had not proceeded far before mv observation as a student of humanity told me that the influence of long pent-up scepticism would predominate and a resolution contrary to your wishes would be carried. L think the hoard most unwise in not seeking an unbiassed investigation as the matter is of such grave importance that even the possibility of mistakes must not be unduly taken. At the' meeting I mentioned the intolerable burden a dead loan would mean, and how it could bleed a district white, affecting not only the country but the. district also. Many farmers in the harbour area have bought land in recent years, and now besides having to pay heavy interest or rent for a long term have also to pay a very heavy county rate (some more so than others owing to the inequitable valuations in proportion to productive value) on the top of this comes an unlooked for liar hour rate, making in all a burden so heavy that the producer is little less than a white slave. li ATK PA Y EPS ’ POS IT lON. The interest taken in the public meeting really showed the natural integrity of tie ratepayer generally, and the decision showed his common sense in not desiring to further spend money upon which he would not only have tc pay interest but finally repay in lull when, the r-‘tuin for such expenditure was very doubtful. The board in its present attitude appears to me to have deleted the ratepayer, the man whose money it is spending. and is using it as if it were their own private wealth. it further appears to me Hint as members of a board you forget that you are trustees for the ratepayer, and a trust being sacred, you are under a moral if not legal obligation to handle that trust not only judicially but as the ratepayers decree it to be done. However, sir, .as you are continuing the work, I must trust that your optimism will be amply justified. It

,vil! uni oak- bo. T)t*ncalh mu- to wisi. the scheme ill but will bo equally unfortunate and sum 11 consolation to i.ny ( .f us iinyiiij.' interest on non -f» nul u«-11 vc work: , • | | hvn noted wlint you have snul ol voor now eii!*'incor, anil also his quail iicalions a jmomled. Tin- lull' 014:111..Iso lias similar credentials, nml I staio lliiit thoso who now diqdori' ho I.rroi's nr judgment, two yours ano woro loudest in his praise. I.et no history repost itself. 1 would riimini'iiil von for your pros cut industry .and dilipeueo woro it not i - or tlio nut Hint vmi i'.sijed in 11 work unit have not fully “minuted the cost. ’ '