WAIMANA RIVER DIVERSION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 180, 14 November 1941, Page 4

WAIMANA RIVER DIVERSION

Sir, —Although the chairman stated at the Council meeting that he had been unaware of any secrecy in connection with the river diversion, he omitted to mention to his fellow councillors the circumstances of how the job was undertaken by the coun* cil. Because of this omission to tell the whole story perhaps you will allow me space to tell the ratepayers how their rates can be needlessly expended by a riding member. - < The plain facts .about this are that the property* owner concerned —Mr H. Wardlaw— com'fcaenced operations with a scoop, and horse team to divert the course of the river from his property where it had caused very considerable erosion and was working in towards his house and cowshed. A few days work proved that it was too big an undertaking for a scoop and horse team. The outcome of a consultation with the Riding member of the council was that it became a county operation alleged to protect a road and bridge. Although this was my outlet road and concerned no other ratepayer I was not consulted in any way. The arrangements were made between the Riding councillor, Mr R. Wardlaw, and the adjoining property owners Messrs H. and T. W. Wardlaw. The undertaking has cost the ratepayers over £120, while the protection of road and bridge could have been adequately carried out as a safe permanent job by willow planting—* for less than £20. Three years ago a Government grant of £120 was lost to the ratepayers by the questionable methods adopted by the Rid ing member in obtaining special advantages for the adjoining property owner. I think the lime is overdue for an investigation by a Government official into the manner of the expen* diture of the County and Government funds; in the Waimana riding with a view to ensuring that all the ratepayers will participate in the benefits instead of a favoured few. There are a number of glaring examples in the district of county as-, sets deteriorating for want of attention—requiring only the expenditure of a few pounds—but in regard to these we are blandly told there is no money available to do the work. Yours etc., G. KIRKBRIDE. Waimana, 11/11/41.