River Rating

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 144, 3 June 1936, Page 7

River Rating

PROPOSED CHANGES Committee Opens Inquiry in Napier BOARD’S SUBMISSIONS Adjustment in the apportionment of Hawke's Bay Rivers Board rates, redivision of the rivers district into wards or adjustment of existing wards, and alteration to the method of determining the system of Rivers Board rating are matters which are receiving the consideration of a Government committee which began an inquiry in Napier this morning. Its mewbership is composed of the Acting Assistant Engineer-in-Chief of tho Public Works Department,, Mr A. J. Baker, who is the committee’s chairman, the Valuer-General, Mr W. Stewart, and an official from the Department of Internal Affairs, Mr A. G. Harper. The inquiry will continue this afternoon and all day to-morrow.

Tho questions to be considered are as follow: —

1. Whether any redivision of the rivers district into wards, or any adjustment of the boundaries of the existing wards, should be made, and, if so, what would be suitable boundaries?

2. Whether any alteration to the number of members of tho Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board, or any redistribution of the number of members, to he elected for tho respective wards of the rivers district should he made, and, if so, to indicate suitable representation accordingly

3. Whether any adjustment should be made in the apportionment of rates among the several wards of tho rivers district and, if so, what would be a fair and equitable apportionment. 4. Whether any alteration should be made in the method of determining the system of rating to be used by the Rivers Board in making or levying its rates.

5. Such other matters incidental to tho loregoing us may come under notice in the course of the investigations. Local bodies and other interests concerned in the inquiry were the follow-

ing :— Hawke s Bay Rivers Board: Messrs. C. Lassen (chairman), G. Rochfort (engineer), W. J. Pullot (clerk), J. Morlev, (counsel). Napier Borough Council: Messrs. C. 0. Morse (Mayor), F. R. Watters (Town Clerk), E E. Watters (councillor) and J. St. Runciman (counsel).

Hastings Borough Council: Messrs. G. A. Maddison (Mayor), N. C. Harding (Town Clerk), C. Evans (engineer), and 11, 11. Holderness (counsel).

Napier Harbour Board: Mr. J. P. Kenny (secretary). Taradale Town Board: Messrs. J. Williamson (chairman) and W. G. Jarvis (clerk).

Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers' Association: Messrs. J. 11. Milne (acting president) and T. Muirhead-Crawford. Hawke's Bay County Council: Messrs. F. B Logan (chairman) and R. E. Talbot. Te Aw a Citizens’ League: Messrs. F. J. Darling (chairman) and S. T. Dodds. Pakowhai Ratepayers’ Association: Mr. T. Muirhead-Crawford. Greenmeadows Settlers: Mr. I. E. Ilalliwell.

OUTLINE UF PROPOSALS The River Board’s desires were outlined by its counsel, Mr J. Morling, who made tho lullowing submissions:— 1 (a): ifie laradaro town district, which is in Ward No. 2, to no made a suo-divuiun ot the ward. The, rates to bo levied iu the Taradale town district to ho such proportion of tho rates levied iu tho wno, u of Ward No. 2 and Ward No. 3 as tire value oj the rateable property in th? Taradale town district bearu to tho vai_o of tho rateable properly in the rest ul \)aid No

2 and in Ward No. 3, and. based on capital values existing from time to time. This suggestion leit Taradale free to fix its system ot rating on the system lor town district purposes. \b) Ward No. 2 to he extended so as to include approximately 71U0 acres of hind forming part ot the le WharcOMaravnui tnock and the Aiiurin Lagoon reserve. These lands, it was stated, had receive! a very great value from' the lutaekuri diversion, which work had simplified their reclamation. (c) it was suggested teat the whole of those areas ot the Napier borough at present in Ward No. z be excluued Irom tho ward and taken into Ward No. 1, this being the only portion ot tho borough now m the rivers district. These areas were approximately o-W acres in area and were situated on the le W hare-O-Alaraenui block and the Ahuriri Lagoon. If these areas were to be included in No. 1 Ward a proper adjustment of tho rates would require to bo made so that Wards 2 and 3 should be relieved of a proportion ot rates.

2. (a) It was suggested that there should bo a redistribution ol the members in Ward No. 2, as follows: Ibe area between the Ng'irtirimo and J utaekuri rivers to have one member, the Taradale town district to have one member and the rest of Ward 2 to have one member. By this redistribution the area between the rivers and the Taradale Town District would each be assured of having representation on the board instead of the possibility ot the rest of the ward having too great a voting powei in the election of members for tho ward

(b) It was suggested that in Ward No. 3 there should be a redistribution us follows: —The area to the east of tho old Ngururoro river to have one member and the rest of the ward one member. This would prevent one part of the ward outvoting the other in the election of members. 3. The allocation of rates as set out by tho 1919 Commission and enacted by the 1919 Act was fair, subject to the adjustments mentioned in tho first submission. 4. With respect to the lands in the district other than the two boroughs and the Taradale town district it was submitted that the system of rating should be on the capital value onsis In the two boroughs and the Taradnle town district the system, it was stated, should follow the system of rating ror the time being in force for municipal purposes and town board purposes respectively. In the rest of the rivers district it was submitted that the

capital value basis was the fair metho(l since the board’s writ gave protection particularly to improvements bui-Ii as buildings, fences ar.d

other items held Dy the Valuation Department to be additions to the capital valuu.

Mr Mulling's remarks were endorsed by the chairman of the Hawke’s bay Rivers Board, Mr C. Lassen, who said that, providing the committee could not see its way clear to adopt the submissions of the board in respect of rating, the board desired the findings of the 1919 Commission to stand. HARBOUR BOARD’S VIEW. Representing the Napier Harbour Board, Mr J. P. Kenny said that both his board aud the Government considered that the Ahuriri Lagoon area would derive no benefits from the flood pi'ul ecl ion scheme. Mr Baker; You will have the oppori tunity later on of referring to this.