AN UNFORTUNATE RIDING

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1731, 11 March 1926, Page 5

AN UNFORTUNATE RIDING

THE PLIGHT OF KAKEPUKU SET BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT.

CLAIMS FOR ASSISTANCE.

“(Should a productive State institution be liable for local taxation?” was a question raised by a deputation to the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) yesterday. The deputation consisted of Cr. C. M. Alexander, Riding member on the Waipa County Council, and Messrs G. Spinlev and G. iS. Clarke, their object being to state the plight in which Kakepuku Riding finds itself and to seek ■ fair treatment from the Government.

The . deputation was introduced, by Mr D. Stewart Reid, MJP. for Waikato. At the outset, Mr Alexander congratulated Mr Young on his elevation to Cabinet rank. His many old friends in Kakepuku—throughout the Waikato ip fact —regarded him as the right man for'sueh a responsible position. (Applause). Coming to his subject, Mr Alexander explained that Kakepuku is the smallest Riding in the County of Waipa; it is also the most heavilyrated, the rates being about 2sd in •the £ over the whole Riding. The . valuation of the Ridjng is £274,878, but nearly one-quarter of that valuation .is -non-ratable property, being State owned land; the Tokaniui mental Hospital. This, it was argued, is entirely a producing institution. It produces equal or perhaps a higher ratio of primacy production than neighbouring privately-owned lauds. Therefore it is considered but right and proper that it should share with the settlers the ordinary rating responsibilities. It needled, and used the roads just aSg, much as all settlers did. . Turning to another problem, Mr Alexander told how a loan had been raised for the roading of the district. The County engineer had been praised bv Public Works officials for the road"he had built. But tourists had found, these roads; they them in a very practical way'— they used them. The result was that Kakepuku had to maintain what virtually had become two main highways. Therefore they went to the Government to ask for some consideration m the way of assistance. They suggesi - ed a subsidy or grant equivalent to the rate that would be levied were State owned lands taxable. the very least the Government should lelieve .them of the 1A miles of the present main highway which passed through one corner of the Riding. Mr Young: Is that the U miles im- • med.iately across the Pumu budge be yond Kihikihi? Mr Alexander: Yes! He went on t explain that along this road the County had only two, ratepayers . On one side of the road is Tokanui Mental Hospital and on the other side i Waikeria Reformatory— both non-rat-abMr Alexander added that great mischief had been* done tins summei . using the new road. Mr Young: What road, is that Mr Alexander explained it was gen erally known as the Puniu road, running practically .through the centre • ot ,M? e S« .1 £ years ago was onoumvateltot ,t sjas occupied by genuine Pioneering, were fast overcoming the pioneenns Ss»~rSSB naki service cars frequently used, tfte P M?G. rciarke recall tir^atew a f ai d it Tll pe ß rs d onally! m he' considered stand it. Department simU miles Of road as altoS T£° Sfif Mr Alexander exSSiiSiS" Count, Council had found some metal ssss most piogressive. * • pn ,^ ri:)r ise that the reward of then elite 1 was to have to carry the through traffic He explained that a maui , h !£ _ wav had been declared through Ma ngapiko Riding to Pirongia, but much, of the Kawhia traffic went throug Sung in reply said he recoguised their difficulties. He was findi S a similar problem cropping up m all nnnts of the Dominion. He v,as m vesti gating the whole question m an pTulleavour to discover some means of S IclP me “>«“ “S' The Departmental mit that they, frequently gave assist ance on the roads, and held that this “a? of equal value to the | rates tha would be paid in the usual ra» sil.lv a way may be fdiscovered oif uUI; Wing more of the labour ipartment’s disposal on That was merely a su SSesti. did not want to promise any t iling he would not he able to give eftect to. They could rest assured that he wml investigate the position and g requests sympathetic consideration. He was fully aware of the local c •cuniistances. , xrinis(Mr Alexander, thanking the - ter said he recognised tins was a knotty problem. But in bygone years the people of Kakepuku had recognised full well that, as their Mr Young liked knotty P™ blem n s *“£ usually found a way of smoothing them out.