The Drainage Question

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 35, 20 April 1928, Page 4

The Drainage Question

The Ading Officials Coming North Hon. Mr, Reed’s Representations r- ' (Age Special Service) Wellington, This Day, As a result of the representations made to him by the Hon. V. H. Reed M.L.C. and the representative of the Kaitaia Drainage „ Committee in Wellington recently the Minister for Lands has agreed to reopen the Drainage Rating and Classification question.

Mr J B Thompson Under-Sec-retary for Lands, and Mr O’Donnell, Controller of Accounts have been deputed to visit Kaitaia to meet the Drainage Committee with a view to settltng the dispute between the Minister and settlers. Nothing definite will be done until after those officials return to Wellington, but it maybe taken as a fact that the Minister will be guided largely by their recommendations. It is understood that the Government will not view unfavourably a proposal that the capital cost be written down by a further £50,000. Editorial Note :

The foregoing message is consistent with information received in Kaitaia from the deputation which went to Wellington. It is somewhat different Irom Colonel Bell’s proposition that the settlers should only ask to have the capital cost reduced to £IOO,OOO. If the capital cost is reduced a further £50,000 it will mean at most £60,000 the settlers will have to carry. We say that the settlers should not have to bear more than the maintenance cost*