LAND DRAINAGE BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20810, 28 February 1931, Page 13

LAND DRAINAGE BILL.

OPINION OF BOARDS.

AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.

CLASSIFICATION OF LAND. [by telegraph.—OWN correspondent.] HAMILTON, Friday. A conference, at which representatives of most of the drainage boards in the Waikato were present, was held in Hamilton to-day to discuss the provisions of the Land Drainage and River Protection Bill, which was circulated during the last session of Parliament. Mr. F. Lye, M.P., presided. Mr. A. G. Harper, of. tho Department of Internal Affairs, attended on behalf of the Government to note objections and to determine the attitude of the boards concerned. In outlining the purposes of the bill, Mr. Harper said it was proposed to bring up to date the, laws governing the activities of drainage and river boards and to obviate the difficulties which had been facing them. One of the main reforms contemplated was the matter of classification of land, seven classes being proposed instead of four, as at present. It was also sought to make provision for the classifier to fix the scale of rates. A Wise Provision. Mr. F. A. Swarbrick, legal'adviser to several boards in the area, said the Government was to be commended for a genuine attempt to overcome the difficulties facing drainage boards. The provision to increase the classes of land for rating purposes was a very wise one. The present legislation, whereby magistrates were called upon to decide classification disputes, was unsatisfactory. Questions affecting drainage matters could be settled to greater advantage by a competent drainage engineer.

Dealing with the proposal to lengthen the classification list, Mr. N. G. Gribble said it would do more justice to ratepayers, but would raise a number of difficulties m practice. The sooner the Government devised a scheme of uniform classification the better. If possible it Y S desirable that the legislation itself should provide for the proportions of rating. One great difficulty facing boards was the appointment of classifiers. The speaker suggested a tribunal of qualified men for the joint purpose of classifying lands and settling disputes. Consideration of Damage.

Mr. Swarbrick made a suggestion which several speakers supported, that classification should be made on the basis of damage likely to be caused, as well as benefit conferred.

The following resolutions were passed That on tho formation of any area into a drainage district, a drainage map, which should be the basis on which all classification is made, should be prepared. That a tribunal be set up to facilitate the administration of the Act and to decide all matters of appeal, and that it should be composed of qualified drainage assessors, whose sphere of responsibility, duties and functions are defined, and that the tribunal should, when hearing major matters, have a magistrate as chairman. (

That provision be made in the classification of land for detriment as well as benefit, similar to the incorporated in the Taupiri Drainage and River District Act.

That this conference approves of the increase in the number of classes for rating and suggests that the bill set out. the proportions to be adopted by the classifier.

That the River Boards, Land Drainage, Public Works and County Council Acts should be consolidated sc that regulations relating to drainage works coincide. It was decided to recommend to the Government the appointment of a committee of four persons with practical knowledge of drainage problems to prepare any farther recommendations.