CATCHMENT BOARDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27357, 5 April 1950, Page 8

CATCHMENT BOARDS

Sir,—As a farmer-ratepayer, I cannot let Mr Machin’s recent letter in reference to catchment boards pass without some comment. If Mr Machin is so sure of himself, would he be prepared to resign his seat if Mr Thompson would do likewise and contest a country seat in Otago? If he would be willing to do that, I am sure, to use his own words, events would cut him down from his unstable structure.

During the reign of the Socialist Party in this country. Government nominees to boards and other high-ranking Government officials were encouraged to flout their powers before the primary producers of our land. Mr Holland and his party definitely pledged themselves to put an end to this state of affairs, but. judging by the remarks of the Deputy Prime Minister in Central Otago, during his recent visit, I am afraid Mr Nash’s policy Is still to be continued and the present Government has decided to throw those pledges overboard and take the people’s money and spend it to better advantage than they can themselves.—l am, etc:, Farmer-Ratepayer.

Sir, —In your issue of March 25 Mr Ireland gave one of his typical replies to Mr J. B. Gordon, a responsible member of Federated Farmers. Such hostility is most unfortunate. There is nothing absurd about Mr Gordon’s inquiry, ana the information sought should have been given. The Catchment Board cannot levy a works rate until the land is classified. A small amount of work has been undertaken during the past year, the cost of which has been met voluntarily by property owners, subsidised by the SC and RC Council. Mr Machin entered the controversy like a lion, but went out like:,’;a lamb. The instability of'catchment board administration was amply demonstrated by the recent revolt of Mr Machin’s own North Canterbury ratepayers. I pin my faith to county council administration, which has served New Zealand so well for the past 74 years. Compensation is a live issue wherever catchment boards operate. In the Wairarapa district property owners refused to permit the catchment board to enter upon their properties in connection with t. a river control scheme until compensation had been agreed upon. The SC and RC council gave judgment against the objectors, who, it said, possessed no rights to prohibit entry upon their lands for the reason that their compensation had. not been decided. Farmers must now realise that their property rights have been filched from them by the SC and RC Act, and this in a supposedly democratic country.—l am, etc.. Wetherstones. Richard S. Thompson.