DERATING OF RIVER BOARDS OPPOSED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1931, Page 12

DERATING OF RIVER BOARDS OPPOSED.

Strong objection was voiced at the meeting of the Geraldine County Council on Monday to the suggestion contained in Mr T. D. Burnett’s notice-of-question in the House of Representatives in connection with the introduction of legislation derating all River Board areas, so far as the payment of road rates is concerned, so that counties and River Boards could concentrate on river protective works. The objection was raised by Mr F. R. Flatman, chairman of the Finance Committee, who said that if the matter

was correctly reported he was sorry that Mr Burnett should have put forward ideas without first ascertaining what effect they would have on the county’s finance. Both the engineer and county clerk should have been consulted. Mr Flatman did not think the subject affected other counties in South Canterbury, as they had no River Board rates or area. He desired the public to know that they had interest on loans to meet to which the whole county contributed. If the River Board] area were derated from general county rates, the position would lie that the rest of the county not included in the River Board area would have to make up the balance of those derated by striking a heavier rate. Mr Flatman said that Mr Burnett’s ideas would not do at all. The county engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner) considered that if the proposal were carried into effect the whole oi the Temuka riding would be derated. The council agreed to send a telegram to Mr Burnett objecting to his ideas.