COUNCIL'S INDIGNATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19119, 10 September 1925, Page 8

COUNCIL'S INDIGNATION

SHARP REPLY TO MINISTER.

HAURAKI ROADS AND RATES. GRIEVANCES OF SETTLERS. . ("by telegraph.—own corilespondekt. ] THAMES, Wednesday. Strong exception to a statement by the Minister for Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, in Parliament last week, to the effect that the council had taken 2d in the £ from the settlers and given nothing in return, was taken by Mr. Mayn at a meeting of the Hauraki Plains 'County Council. Ho said the Patetonga ratepayers had a very real grievance against the Government, which admitted that portions of the land should never have been thrown open for settlement. No satisfaction had been received from the department, which had answered repeated requests for assistance with a statement that it was waiting for consolidation. This had been going on for 13 years. The Government had compelled the council to take over the roads whether the settlors liked it or not. The department, he said, had repeatedly made definite promises to clay and reclay the roads and make them fit to receive metal. A little gravel had certainly been put down. The settlers had not been given "a fair spin." When the Patetongn settlers considered the roads were ready for mctal.it was the Government and not the settlers who had "dug their toes in." The total collectable rates in the Patetonga riding were not sufficient to metal a mile of road. The Minister had made a deliberate attempt to belittle the council and his methods savoured of "the mailed fist." Unwarranted Attack.

He moved: "That this council records its deep resentment at the hostile attitude displayed by the Minister for Lands who from the floor of the House made an unwarranted attack upon the policy and administration of the Hauraki Plains County Council when replying to a request made by Mr. Poland for relief in connection with the just grievances of settlers in the Patetonga riding. Further this council is of the opinion that an endeavour is being made, by the Minister to shift the responsibilities of his department to the shoulders of the local body and that the 'statement attributed to him that - the Hauraki Plains County Council was taking 2d in the £ from the settlers and giving nothing in return is absolutely unfounded. That for the purpose of proving the council's fairness of general administration and its view of the Land Department's obligations to the settlers a committee consisting of the chairman, Mr. Mayn, and the clerk be appointed to draw up a report on tho position."

The motion was seconded by .Mr, Hay : ward and strongly supported by the chairman, Mr. Miller." It was carried unanimously. The Minister was later severely criticised by Mr. McLoughlin on his control of the Lands Department, and his attitude to the Hauraki Plains settlers. The criticism arose from a motion by Mr. Hare that the council strongly object to the dredge rate imposed by the Lands Department for the current year. " Wild ,Statements." -,n In. seconding the motion Mr. McLoughlin said the Minister had not shown consideration to the Plains settlers. He had given an assurance that no dredging would be done south of Patetonga yet, before the deputation had reached their homes, a dredge, which had been paid for somehow by the,ratepayers, was at work in the Waitoa district. Mr. McLoughlin charged the Minister with making wild statements at the county offices and with failure to keep promises in regard to the Lands Department. The Minister had even challenged the council's book-keeping, and said he would have an auditor down to see what they were doing with the money. •

When councillors had controlled their feelings sufficiently to tell. the Minister that the balance-sheet had been returned without a "tag," and duly certified to as correct, Mr. McLoughlin went on, the Minister said he would like to see a photograph of it. Everywhere on the Plains settlers. were demanding a commission to investigate the work of the Lands Department in that area. If the Minister was dissatisfied with the administration of the county- then he, Mr. McLoughlin, would tell the Minister that the people were very dissatisfied with the conduct of the Lands Department as far as the Hauraki Plains were concerned. The motion was carried.