RIVERS DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18103, 11 February 1922, Page 8

RIVERS DRAINAGE.

WAIHOU AND OHINEMURI. THE COST OF THE WORK. PROTEST IN PARLIAMENT. LEGISLATION DEFERRED. [BI TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. Provision was made in the Finance Act of 1919 for the raising of a second loan of £150,000 in connection with the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers improvement scheme. A clause in the Finance Bill now before Parliament provides that interest and sinking fund oil that amount shall be payable in the same proportions as provided by tho law for money raised by the earlier loan authorisation.

Speaking to the second reading, Mr. H. Poland (Ohinemuri) objected strongly to the clause. This was the first chance ho had had, he said, of discussing the report of the Royal Commission which had been laid before Parliament a few days ago. The commission said it was going to cost £625,000 before the scheme was completed, and adequato protection from flooding given to the district. That meant to say that another £400,000 would have to be paid before the work was completed. Everyone knew that it was not possible for the settlers in tho district to pay for those works. The 1919 Bill had authorised the government to borrow further for the purpose. At that time tlie steps were not taken to provide for the extra interest snd sinking funds required by increased borrowing, and this Bill was doing it. The rates to be paid by the settlors for this purpose were to be doubled.

He suggested that a further and independent report should be obtained concerning the work. It would be worth while paying £5000 to obtain the information rather than to go on spending money, as was proposed at present. Ihe land was not receiving any protection from flood at present, and if, as was stated, the protection would not be effective until the scheme was completed, they would have to wait another 25 years for it. Mr. Poland also strongly criticised the failure to improve the navigation of the rivera.

The Prime Minister, speaking in reply, said he had had a number of communications about the clause, asking that it should be allowed to stand over. He had had his doubts about it all along. He saw no objection to holding it over. He had consulted the Minister in charge, and tho head of the department, and they both agreed that this course could be taken.

POSITION OF WAIHI. THE COUNCIL'S PLIGHT. EFFECT OF EXTRA BURDEN. [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN COURESPONDKNT.] WAIHI. Friday. The recommendations of the Royal Commission appointed to inquiro into the annual charges to be made on tho various local bodies interested in the Ohinemuri and Waihou Rivers silting scheme have been made public, and although it is difficult to determine the exact position bo far as the financial responsibilities of the Waihi Borough Council aro concerned, in the absence of complete details the information available suggests that the borough will be taxed to an even greater extent than under the finding of the commission of 1910. If the report is adopted and passes into law it would spell nothing short of ruin for the borough, already in financial difficulties, and would also add materially to the burden of the district gold mining companies, which are feeling the strain of high cost of production. It would appear that the borough's contribution to the rivers improvement schemo will under the new conditions run into £3500 yearly, and if this is so, and tho onus of maintaining the hospital is still thrown on the council, then only some £500 will remain for the ordinary maintenance of the borough works, assuming, of course, that the gold revenue does not decrease. If this proves to be the case, it is difficult to see how the affairs of the town are to be carried on, as already accounts owing have been accumulating at an astonishing rate, and the council was looking to a reduction of the rivers silting charge to permit of the payment of these arrears. In the hope that the pqsition may be reconsidered before legislation on tie rivera scheme is given efiect to, the Mayor, Mr. D. Donaldson, to-day telejrraphed to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Works as follows "Do you propose introducing legislation as recently stated by you this session? ,If the report means what it seems to us to mean, it will be disastrous for Waihi, and until tho full report is received and considered this council strongly protests against any fresh legislation affecting this matter being placed on the statutes."