DRAINAGE BOARDS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18257, 19 February 1931, Page 8

DRAINAGE BOARDS.

PROPOSED AMALGAMATION

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

CONFERENCE IN HAMILTON

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday

The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, said today he would like to stress the fact that the whole scheme of the legislation passed in 1929 regarding the proposed amalgamation of the various drainage and river authorities in the Mangawara catchment area was of a purely optional nature and that it rested mainly with the ratepayers in the district to determine whether they wished a comprehensive scheme of land drainage and river protection to be carried into effect. The Minister recalled the fact that after the chief drainage engineer of the Lands Department had reported on a suggested scheme and had indicated suitable boundaries for a district, tlxe Minister published the notice setting out these boundaries and calling for objections. “ i received quite a number of objections,” said the Minister, “ but generally I do not look upon them as being objections in the strict sense of the word. Ralhe.r, they were qualifications by local authorities, ratepayers’ associations and others that they would agree to the scheme only if further legislation were brought down. In particular, the subject of rating on an acreage basis was given prominence and there seemed to he quite a widespread desire that legislation be brought down authorising Hie adoption of this system of rating.” A Conference -Arranged.

The Minister referred to the fact that the 1929 legislation made provision for the setting xip of a commission to consider any objections received and generally to report as to the desirability of constituting the new district. “I felt that no good -purpose would he served by appointing a commission," continued the Minister, “but I thought' it better that the different interests concerned should come together at a conference and have a free and frank discussion of the whole proposals. “Accordingly, I arranged that Mr A. G. Harper, of my department, should make a further visit to the district and a conference has been fixed for Thursday of next week in Hamilton. "I can assure those concerned that I will he very pleased to go fully into any proposals which they make concerning the adoption of rating on an acreage basis, hut at the same time I think it only right to point out that the system is a comparatively new and untried one as far as this Dominion is concerned.”