The Drainage Committee’s Report

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 71, 17 October 1928, Page 4

The Drainage Committee’s Report

I'o The Ratepayers So Far Satisfactory Committee’s Appointment Justified The success that has attended the efforts of the Drainage Committee, set ud by the ratepayers in the Kaitaia Swamp Drainage Area, to receive some measure of relief from the unfair imposition of a Drainage Rate, and right the anomalies in connection with the apportioning of the amount to be paid by the different Areas, can be considered satisfactory from the ratepayers point of veiw. At the meeting of ratepayers held in the Kaitaia Library on February 13 the Committee was appointed to bring forward recommendation to the ratepayers. 1 he committee recommended the following : That a Royal Commission be appointed to enquire into the cost of ihe Drainage Scheme. That a reduction be made in the Capital Cost. That a reclassification of the Area be authorised. That owners of land be given the right of appeal against the classification. That no Capital Rate be struck until the Drainage Scheme is completed. A meeting of the ratepayers was called and the committee’s proposals were unanimously adopted. Further meetings were held in every part of the district and resolutions were passed supporting the committee. As a result of correspondence between the Minister of Lands and the Drainage Committee, the Minister agreed to send up to the district a Departmental Commission to specially interview the Drainage Committee. Owing to a misunderstanding an informal meeting was called in the Northland Theatre, but the Commission afterwards met the committee, when the case for the ratepayers was ably put before them. The Commission stated that the Minister had instructed them to state that he [the Minister] had agreed to a reclassification of the area and that the rates demanded would be waived. This was considered satisfactory by the committee.

The correspondence between the Drainage Committee, and the member for the district, also the Minister of Lands, in connection with the Royal Commission to inquire into the cost of the Drainage Scheme, was in no way an assurance that the Royal Commission would be granted. And the committee finally decided that a deputation should visit Wellington and lay the petition, signed by the ratepayers, asking for a Royal Commission, before the Minister of Lands Mr McLeod.

The deputation met with a very sympathetic hearing from the Minister who stated that a Royal Commission would be set up provided that the ratepayers would agree to abide by its decision. After the deputation had spoken to the Minister, Colonel Bell stated that the proposal the deputation had made in connection with the reduction of the Capital Cost was identical with the one he had already put before him, The assurance from the Minister that a Royal Commission would be granted provided the Ratepayer demanded this, and the confidential information disclosed to the deputation in connection with the reduction in the Capital Cost was sufficient to

warrant the deputation recommending to the Drainage Committee on their arrival back to Kaitaia to take no further action j at present but wait and see what j the reduction in the Capital Cost would amount to. On Ist October, Colonel Bell wired Mr. C. S. Puckey as follows : —Kindly advise me by wire exact amount on which you base your calculations and suggestions to me with regard Capital Cost Kaitaia Drainage Area. The telegram was discussed by the Drainage Committee and the following reply was drafted and sent by Messrs C. S. Puckey and Hodgson: Col. Allen Bell Parliament Buildings Wellington Calculations based on Capital Cost of Sixty-two thousand five hundred pounds which amount represents capital rates Three thousand six hundred and four pounds demanded from ratepayers 16th February, 1928. See Swamp Drainage account. Suggestion made to you Capital Cost be reduced to an amount which would bring rates below sum demanded. Have referred question to Drainage Committee who are unanimous that Capital Cost on rural area should not exceed Forty thousand pounds which amount the district is able to carry.