LUDICROUS POSITION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 64, 18 December 1946, Page 5

LUDICROUS POSITION

~ • SHARBOUR BOARD RATES

JUST MEETS TRAVELLING EXS

Something of a Giibertian state of affairs was disclosed in a letter from the Tauranga Harbour Board to the County Counoil yesterday when it was shown that the whole of the payable rate from Matata was taken up to meet the travelling expenses of the local member.

Detailing the position the Harbour Board Secretary advised that the member who represents Matata received £3 Is 4d for mileage per meeting plus ,10d per hour at the 'actual meeting. In normal circumstances the expenses for 12 months showed approximately £36. When considering the question' of representation the Council should bear in mind what might be termed the indirect benefit of having a port at Tauranga. The fact that there was a port there, probably had a very direct bearing on the question of railway freights. The Matata riding was contributing rates and although the rate is small and is absorbed in the travelling expenses of the riding representative, it may well be that the district represented does derive some benefit from the activities of the Board, and before making a move to exclude the area from the Harbour Board district, the question should be considered from all angles.

The question of Matata seceeding from the Tauranga Board’s area was discussed, Cr Hunter pointing out that if the district came under the Whakatane Board all its rating responsibility might be wiped off by 1950. : ;

Cr Burt said he wished the Ma(tata ratepayers could be persuaded to see it that way. '