EGMONT PARK FINANCES

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 5 March 1935, Page 7

EGMONT PARK FINANCES

NO MEANS OP REVENUE POSITION BECOMING SERIOUS GOVERNMENT AID WANTED. It was reported to the Egmont National Park Hoard yesterday by the chairman, Mr. W. C. Weston, that the finances were in such a condition as to he really serious, and unless some steps were taken immediately to provide a more permanent means of revenue than was the case at present, there was no telling what would happen. The Board devoted some time to the consideration of the subject, and came to two decisions. The first was that the Highways Board would be approached with a view to that body taking over the maintenance of the three roads leading to the mountain, and, secondly, that the chairman and Mr. T R. Anderson wait on the Minister and ask that the ’Government make provision for a grant of £SOO for the purpose of the destruction of goats, afforestation extension, fencing and ranging. The chairman said that lie had given the matter some considerable thought, and after going into the question with interested people, lie prepared a re port on the matter which re read to the meeting. The plan is that, as Egmont is the natural reservoir of Taranaki, the local bodies receiving the water supply from its slopes should pay a- certain percentage of their rates towards the Park Board. Hawera, Stratford, Eltham, New Plymouth, Inglewood and Waitara boroughs, Opunake, and Manaia town board districts, and Taranaki, Egmont, Waimatc West. EJtliam, Stratford and Inglewood counties are involved in the water supplies, the Clifton and Hawera counties being excepted. A levy of l-30thd in the £1 on the total valuation would bring in £130*7, said Mr. Weston. It would be made up for the boroughs as follows : New : Plymouth, £240; Waitara, £l4; Inglewood, £9 10s; Stratford, £00; Eltfiam. £26 10s; Hawera, £81; Opunake, £lO, and Manaia £4, a total of £445. Foi the counties, the levies would be Taranalii, £210; Egmont, £152; Waimate West, £187; Inglewood, £6l ; Stratford, £119; Eltham, £133; a total of : £S62. The total capital valuation of i the boroughs was £3.200,306. and the i counties £6,205,000, a total of £9,- ( 405,306. , NO* REVENUE AT ALL. ]

Commenting further on the position. Mr. Weston said that he had interviewed the Hons. S. G. Smith and J. McLeod on the matter, with a view to obtaining their co-operation. “At the present time, we have no revenue at all and live from hand to mouth,” he said. “There may be parts of the mountain where untold damage was done by the recent floods which we know nothing about, and for this purpose we need a ranger.” The bush would also have to be conserved, or Taranaki would -be in a. sorry plight for water, say, ICO years hence.

Mr. F. H. Waters : What is the alternative except to apply toi the Government? We were told two years ago by the Government that if the conservation of the bush was such a vital factor in the water supply to Taranaki that Taranaki should do something about it without recourse to the Government.

Mr. P. Thomson quoted the Bruce estate, which had been a source of revenue, but had since "dried up.” The local. bodies throughout Taranaki had made grants to the board from time to ti my, and although the local bodies had been faithful tc» their obligations, the revenue from that source was by no means commensurate with the expenses of the board. If the local bodies were desirous that the board must carry on the work, then they must find the revenue. At the present time the toll money collected was being expended to the best possible advantage, but the board must have more finance.

Mr W. G. Walkley: The local bodies will probably resist further grants, but we must have more money from somewhere. Last year the south committee received £155 from local bodies. Mr. Weston: It is a most unsatisfactory position to have to go to the local bodies cap-in-hand. We are entirely at their mercy. Mr. T. Rl. Anderson: The board consists of members who do their work voluntarily, and it is not to be expected that they should have all this worry.

AN UNFAIR PROPOSITION. Mr. Amoore: It is certainly an unfair proposition the way it is constituted. ‘ Mr. .Walkley. suggested that a fin. tlier endeavour should he made to get the roads under the control of the Main Highways Board, as this would relieve the park board of the expense of the maintenance. He stated that the board had communicated with the Highways Board on this point, but had received a reply that, as the roads were not national and not under the control of the counties, the work would not come under the scope of the Highways Board The chairman said that even this would not get the board out of troublous there would still be no money to apply to the reserve, and to pay rangers, etc. The timber had to be conserved and this could not be considered a source of revenue. "The local bodies will have to face the question,” he said, “as the mountain is of immense value to the counties. Otherwise the Government will have to find some fixed source of revenue. Mr. Anderson said that, as a member of the board, he agreed with the chairman regarding an appeal to the local bodies, hut as a councillor he thought that it would be too hard on the ratepayers. He thought that lie would- have some opposition when he went back to the county with such a proposition. Mr. Weston: Well, we must have revenue. The water supply to the counties is a vastly different proposition nowadays to what it was 40 years ago. It is ho good shutting our eyes to the fact that wo cannot stay here and do'nothing. The Government will have to do something." Mr. Anderson said that the park ‘whs much, more important than TongarirO, as it 06ri£4riAd a<: greater watOf supply. “W'l feaVe a definite atset.”

he said, “but we have been short of money lor the past 20 years. ’ Mr. G. J. Bayley suggested that representations be made to the Government and Mr. Walkley agreed to see Messrs H. G. Dickie and C. A. Wilkinson, M.’sP., in the matter. Mr Walk ley considered that the Government should be asked for a straight-out grant of £SOO. Mr. Walkley then suggested that the report read by Mr. Weston be cir culated among tho various committees and alter these bodies had the opportunity to discuss the situation, that tho matter be referred to the member for each electorate. This was agreed to. Regarding the proposal to get the Highways Board to take over the maintenance of the roads, it was left to Sir'. Walkley to interview the board arid the Minister of Public Works fc* grir'dirig thd nirittef,