APPOINTING A CLASSIFIER

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1932, Page 11

APPOINTING A CLASSIFIER

HTKUEANGI SWAMP AREA

PROTEST AGAINST A RATE

A ■meeting of owners and occupiers ' of laud in the Hikurangi Swamp drain- ' age area was held in tiro Criterion Theatre, Hikurangi, yesterday after- ; noon for the purpose of receiving nomi- | nations for the election of a classifier of lands to act in conjunction with the classifier appointed by the Crown. This according to a letter from the Minister, was in accordance with Section 3 of the Swamp Drainage Amendment Act of 1925, and it was intended to proceed with the classification for rating purposes.

Mr T. Ellis was appointed chairman. Mr L. W. Nelson at this ymint commented that the agenda as submitted allowed no room for a protest being entered against the classification for rating purposes, but the chairman stated that a. classifier would have to be appointed. If he were not appointed, then the Minister had the power to appoint one himself. All that ho (the chairman), was doing was to carry out what lie bad been asked to do, presiding at a meeting for the appointment of a classifier. Afterwards, a meet-ing-to discuss any aspect of the matter could he held if necessary. Nominations were invited for the appointment of a classifier, and Messrs E, Elliott, Angus Finlayson, F. Wake--lin and .1. Feat were nominated. A ballot was taken and the scrutineers, Messrs J. Woods, L. W. Nelson, Hawkins and W. If. Forsyth announced that Mr F. Elliott had been appointed. According to a letter from the Minister, the classifier is allowed £2 per day, plus locomotion expenses, by the Government.

This closed the business for which the meeting had been called and Mr Mil is vacated the chair.

Meeting of Protest,

Subsequently a. further Meeting was held, Mr L. W. Nelson being voted to the chair.

'Phe chairman stated that he thought the appointment of a classifier had stultified to a great extent anything that might be subsequently decided upon. He mentioned the possibility of calling a new meeting and. of electing a, working committee to organise, in the way of a, petition, a protest against a rate being imposed. The Government, he said, had been stating that the farmers were in a parlous state and help must be given to them. No one was so cognisant of the dire position of the farmers as the Government itself, and it was difficult te understand why it was purposed to impose additional expense on the ratepayers of the district.

It was decided, to proceed with the meeting at once, and Mr A. C. M, Pinlayson moved that they appoint, a committee to draw up a petition to be signed by all owners and occupiers in the area concerned to protest against, the Government imposing a rate at the present juncture.

Tliis was carried unanimously, and Messrs 0. Brown, Angus Finlayson, J. Campbell, J. Mcßreen, W. Rowley, W. Wakelin and the chairman of the Hikiirangi Town Board were appointed a committee to organise the protest.

The Hikurangi Swamp Drainage area com prises about 50,00(1 acres. The drainage work was commenced about 1-1 of 15 rears ago and the expenditure to -March .‘ll, 19M2, totalled £228,125, the proportion of interest charged to Ihe district being £1.'!,125, making the. grand total £dtil.2ss. The majority has been spent on the Wairua River improvements. The drainage works were stopped some months ago. There has been no previous rate.