SEPARATE AREAS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 225, 5 September 1928, Page 8

SEPARATE AREAS

PROPOSED RATING CARRYING OUT OF RIVERS WORKS. MOTION DEFERRED. “That the board take steps to create a separate rating area within the northern end of the district for the purpose o-f raising a loan to carry out the work of diverting the Tutaekuri. ” The above motion, moved by Mr W. Smart at yesterday's meeting of the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board was, after discussion, held over for a month to enable members to give it further consideration. Mr Smart stated that the diversion of the Tutaekuri would cost a large sum, for which a loan would be required. He did not think that there was any likelihood of the ratepayers in the southern district supporting it. If a separate rating district was created then the onus would be thrown upon those who would be likely to benefit by it. Mr J. Miller (chairman) in second ing the motion, stated that although members were unanimous about the diversion of the Tutaekuri they felt that having to go to the ratepayers for a loan was going to jeopardise the chance of the work being carried out. On the Hastings side there was a preponderance of rates, and the ratepayers of Hastings and Pukahu could not be expected to support a loan which did not include something for the Ngaruroro.

Mr Miller then quoted at length the figures of the estimated revenue from the northern district which, along with assistance from the Napier Harbour Board, went to show that the raising of loan of £40,000 would not be any burden whatever on the ratepayers. By adopting the 1919 scheme he felt that it would be well within the means of the district. When the lime came for work to be carried out on the Ngaruroro a special rating area could bo fixed for the ratepayers concerned with that river. As there was much to be considered he was of the opinion that it would be advisable if Mr Smart held over his motion for a month to enable members to further look into it. WHY THE LOAN? Mr J. Macdonald: As the board has adopted a modified scheme for the diversion of the Tutaekuri why do we want to raise a loan at all- Can’t we do the work out of revenue? Mr Miller: What can you do with a £lOOO a year? Mr Macdonald: All the people want is for the river to be diverted, an i it doesn’t matter whether it is totally diverted or not. Who wants the total diversion anyway Isn’t it the Harbour Board? Mr G. Latham: Yes. Mr Macdonald: If the Harbour Board wants the total diversion let them pay for it. I certainly am opposed to any special rating area for a total diversion. Mr W. G. Jarvis, in supporting Mr Macdonald, regarding a total diverstion. said ‘that the work the board had‘to do was to give, relief from floods. At this stage it was agreed that an immediate decision on the motion would not be advisable and it was accordingly held over for a month.