Farmers’ Views On Catchment Area

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 38, 16 April 1948, Page 4

Farmers’ Views On Catchment Area

SUPPORT FOR SMALLER DISTRICT: FURTHER RATING OPPOSED

The Catchment Board controversy was fully discussed by the Rangitaiki branch of the Bay of Plenty Province of Federated Farmers •at its annual meeting on Monday and it was decided to support the Tauranga branch in its suggestion that the area west of the Kaituna River should not be included in any Catchment Board area as there is no flooding or erosion problem in that district. • The Federation opposes any further rate imposition and is going so far as to seek the complete de-rat-ing of this area. To cover this loss of revenue it proposes that the

rates be spread over the rest of' the rating area. .t A resolution was also passed supporting the views of the County Council and the Drainage Commttee in their proposals to restrict the area of the Catchment Board.

Tauranga County Ratepayers Seek Exemption For 500 Square Miles

A resolution that the Government be requested—through the Waimapu Riding members of the Tauranga County Council —to exclude from the operations of the Soil Conservation -’and Rivers Control Act (1941), an area of approximately 500 square miles in the Tauranga County, lying west of the Waitao River, was passed at a meeting -of 61 ratepayers in the Waimapu Riding, at a meeting in the Gate Pa Hall last week. It was decided to send a copy of the decision, and a request for support, to the Tauranga Borough Council, Tauranga. County Council, Mount Maunganui Borough Council, Rotorua County Council and Rotorua Borough Council. Copies would also be circulated among the branches of Federated Farmers of New Zealnd in the Bay of Plenty. The motion was moved by Mr W. Morris .; and seconded by Mr H. Robinson, the chairmen of the Tauranga and Oropi branches of Federated Farmers of New. Zealand respectively; Introducing the question, Mr Robinson said that there was no erosion in the Tauranga area concerned. The Government’es earthquake fund was lying* idle, and should be drawn, upon instead of increasing the taxation for farmers.