MANAWATU-OROUA BOARD’S SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3528, 24 August 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU-OROUA BOARD’S SCHEME.

• ♦ MEETING OF OBJECTORS. WILL RATEPAYERS VOTE ON LOAN PROPOSAL? A further meeting of propertyowners who are in opposition to the Manawatu-Ofoua. River Board’s scheme to control the lower reaches of the Manawatu, was held at Palmerston North on Saturday afternoon, Mr. A. Guy presiding over a gathering of thirty. Mr. A. Buchanan reported on the result of the deputation to Parliament. It seemed, he said, that the Government was inclined at present to leave the whole matter to the Commission. Mi’. Guy explained that it would require an Act to abolish the Board. Mr. H. Vile, a member of the deputation, had been, surprised to learn that the ratepayers would not have a vote on the question of loans. The chairman explained that tho executive had referred that point to Mr. Linklater, M.P.,. who had replied. by telegram to the effect that he had been informed by the Minister of Internal Affairs that any allocation of expenditure toward the drainage scheme, by the Commission, would, if raised by loan, have to have the consent of the ratepayers. They would have an opportunity of voting on the loan proposals, therefore the clause that the executive desired to have inserted in the Local Government Loans Bill, was not necessary. Mr. P. J. Small complimented the chairman on the formation of the opposition'. He thought that before the Parliament closed, it should be approached to make sure that the ratepayers did have a vote. He would move to that effect. Tho chairman stated that the Minister had said that the ratepayers would have a vote, but his reading of the proposed Act did not convey that impression. Mr. -11. Vile ' pointed out that they had the assurance of the Minister that the Bill would give the ratepayers power to vote, but what would be the position if the Bill was not passed They would “be in the-soup” again. The following resolution was carried: “That this meeting considers that Section No. 11 of the River Boards Act is unjust and not democratic, as it gave power to the Commission to allocate large sums of money to local bodies without securing the consent of the ratepayers, and that in the new Local Government Loan Boards Act, provision be made to protect ratepayers in this respect.” It was decided to circularise every member of the House, pointing out the alleged injustice of the Act. A-letter is to be sent to the chairman of the Commission, asking for permission for representatives of the meeting to give evidence. Mr. Small mentioned that what the property-owners in the upper areas were chiefly concerned about, was taxation, if the scheme for straightening the river was necessary, that work should be accomplished. It would be national matter, but the whole question at present was that those receiving no benefit should not be made to pay. If the river diversion is going to improve the swamp lands and make them productive, the work, should not be opposed, but that land should be made to pay for it.