WAIMAKARIRI RIVER TRUST.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18403, 9 June 1925, Page 11

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER TRUST.

TO THI MITOB OF "THB PSXS3." Sir As there is considerable lack of knowledge in regard to the constitution and rating powers of the Waimakariri River Trust, will you permit me to give the following information for the enlightenment of the city ratepayers? The Trust consists of eight (8) Commissioners, two of whom arc elected bv tho ratcpavers of the northern subdivision, four "by the ratepayers of the southern subdivision, and two others appointed bv the Minister of Public Works. The Minister declares one of his appointees to be chairman Gf the Trust. The present chairman is a Public Works engineer, and the other Government appointee a resident of Kaiapoi. So practically the northern subdivision, which comprises the properties on the northern side of the Waimakariri, has three representatives on the Trust, whilst the southern subdivision has only four. Why the Government should havo two nominees on the Trust to whose funds it docs not contribute a penny passes one's comprehension. Of all the local bodies exercising jurisdiction in this district, the Waimakariri River Trust is about the most peculiar. It has.general rating power to the extent of in the £ on the eapitalvaluc of the property within its district. In order to raise its revenue all that it needs to do is .to direct the local bodies within its district to make and levy the rates required, and these bodies are" bound tp collect as directed by the Trust.. Last year the Board directed the levying of'the sum of £20,46.6 7s 3d, and has done the same this year. This amount is contributed as follows: : '

As a general rule it is recognised that representation on any public, body should be in proportion to taxation and population, but this is not so in. the caso of the Waimakariri Trust. . The ratepayers on the. northern side river arc called upon to find. £1737 Os 6d, and are entitled t0...tw0 representatives, whilst tho ratepayers on. the soutli side of the river, who aro' taxed to the extent of £18,729 0s 9d, aro allowed only four-representatives. The figures quoted show that the City of Christchurch has to find, nearly £14,000 by way of rates (over 73 per cent, of the total amount levied on tho south side of tho Waimakariri), and yet has no direct, representation on the Board. The system of rating followed is on the capital value, the Tates levied being one-sixth of a penny in the £ on the lands in Class A, one-seventh of a penny in Class B, and one-eighth of a penny in Class' C. , The bulk of the city properties .are in Class A. None but ratepayers arc entitled to vote at elections. Wives aro not qualified to voto by virtue of their husbands' qualification, and vice versa, as is the case in cities and boroughs. Plurality of voting is allowed on the basis of one vote in respect of each £IOO.O of value or part thereof, but limited to a maximum of thrco votes.. There arc 20,259 ratepayers in the city entitled to 24,943 votes, whilst in the combined counties in the southern subdivision there aro 4722 individual ratepayers-entitled to 6863 votes. It would seem as though the interests of the city in these important respects had not received the attention'they should have when the special Act constituting the Trust was passed by Parliament. At the present time , the three members representing the southern district comprise a member of the Waimairi and Paparua County Councils and a former city councillor. In view of the large interest it has afc stako and'its population, the city is fairly entitled to greater representation on the Trust whose operations arc so far-reaching in their extent.—Yours, etc., < ■ , J. A. FLESHEE. Christchurch, June Bth, 1925.

SOUTHERN DISTRICT. Boroughs— JE ad X' « tl Chrislehurcli City 13,958 fi 0 New Brighton . 499 3 5 Kiccartc-n 490 2 5 — 14,947 13 10 Counties— Halswell .",10 1 1 Healheoto 295 12 0 I J aparua 958 12 7 Springs 194 17 6 Waimairi 2,002 0 10 ilalvcrn 20 2 11 3,781 6 11 . IS,729 0 9 NORTHERN DISTRICT. Borough— 211 U -2 Tvaiapni ' . . Counties— 1,019 9 (5 Eyro ' ■■ Oxford . 133 l."> 7 llangiori.i 342 12 3 1,737 6 6 £20,466 7 3