OPOTIKI'S REACTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 57, 16 March 1945, Page 3

OPOTIKI'S REACTION

RECENT EROSION CONFERENCE

CAUTIOUS ATTITUDE ADOPTED

In reporting back to the Opotiki County Council on the proceedings at the recent conference in Whakatane re the suggested formation of a Catchment Board in the Bay of Plenty area Mr Cault the Chairman J > .

said that the area was from Otara to Malata in the first place with two further extensions. Every member was, in favour of the area being formed as long as< it did not include his area. As far as Opotiki was conif the. scheme were gone on with, there would be an administration rate struck of up to one-eighth of a penny in the £1 capital value. That would mean that for administration alone they avouUl have to collect £4.16 per year. The land J would be classificd ( and those benefitting most would have to pay the most. Mr Gault admitted that he was not too keen on the scheme. They would have to give a decision later and he would like members to give consideration to the proposals. If they did not accept the scheme, it would probably be forced upon tlie.m at a later date. On the Otara there Ave re about three, farmers suffering and in the Waioeka a few more. Mr Gault questioned whether it would 3;>e worth their while to pay that amount each year for administration. Cr Hedley said that soil conservation also came into the question. The cost of the work would fall almost entirely on the flat land. , Cr Martin said his advice, was to have a look before they ran their heads into a noose. Another rate of six-fourths of a penny on capital value could be put on. Mr Merry read portion of the act and said that it would be equivalent to putting on 3d in the £ on unimproved value. Cr Martin said that they were only interested in six or seven miles of both rivers. Mr, Merry said that if they spent the £-100 they could do the job for themselves.