STRONG OPPOSITION

Chronicle (Levin), 14 March 1946, Page 6

STRONG OPPOSITION

CATCHMENT BOARD RATING COUNTY COUNCIL'S VIEWS , " A great deal of our land to-day is being rated -to excess and if it is further rated without ciassilieation for catchment purposes a very grave injustice will be done,"- declared Mr. W. G. Belton, president of the New Zealand Counties ' Association, ' when speaking on the subject of catchment board rating at a meeting of Ward -J of the association in Palmerston North yesterday. Mr. G. A. Monlc (Horowhenua, and Ward representative on the associa tion) presided over Messrs. R. Craig, A. K. Drew (Manawatu-) , * W. Morrison (Waitotara), Iv. W. Dalrymple, F. L. Nichol (Rangitikei), A. H. Collins, B. E. Orr (Wanganui), W. G. Clapham (Kiwitea), A. M. Colqnhoun, F. H. Hudsoii (Horoivlienua), W. McKay (Pohangina), W. R. Hopcroft, N. I. Nieiseit (Kairanga). Mr. Belton said that he refused lo believe that ciassilieation could not ho carried out, and, in his opinion, tlie views expressed that ciassilieation would take from five to six years were "phooey". • He held that tliose views , were put forward as an excuse ratlrei than a reason. 'The association, he said, should -indicate plainly that its mind was made up. "Important issues are involved, " said Mr. Belton. "Soil conservation is a national matter and the costs shouid be met from the national fixchequcr. This is a case in which I feel that Cabinet Ministers are being led by their departmental officers. " Mr. McKay said that he was very disappointed at the attitude takeu up by the association towards catchment boards. Mr. Alonk: Please qualify that statement. I contradict it. Our association helped to put the Act on the statutes. Mr. McKay: I anr expressing my opinion. The counties' association ha--not helped to make the Act easy tu aduiinister. Continuing, Mr. McKay said tliar ciassilieation would not be the easy and simple matter that Mr. Bolton had represented. It would, in fact, bc one of the greatest and costliest jobs the catchment board had to undertake. There could be no mistake about timi.. The speaker said that he had fouglii fcooth and nail against the suggesied half-penny flat rate, but he had sujiported the farthing fiat rate earmarked for affcrestation and niachinery. Clas sification had to be based on benefit.s derived, and this would prove a niosl difficult thing to assess. | "Catchment boards are still in tlioir [infancy, and tliey have had to face I very eonsiderable criticism which has [not been warranted," declared Mr. McKay. -"The boards do not want lo j impose undue rating, but ciassilieation j ; would mean that a heavy hurdon vvill , j fall on a few in the top classes. 1 i I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Belton! ; that soil conservation is a national j jissue, and the costs should be met by j , all who will derivc beneiUs whiHH means the fellow in the cities and I | boroughs as niuch as tiie farrner. ' ' j I Before tlie meeting came to any do I cision, members should have a clear I - •picture -of the scope- of the Act, saiiT ! Mr. Monk. Not many persons know tlio I catchment boards had power to strike j. rates up to lld. Mr. McKaj': Under ciassilieation. Most catchment boards had siiied oJ'f I c.lassiiication, said Mr. Monk, yet a | flat rate would iinpose injustices. " Siuci- i their inception, most boards had been ; iuundated with requests for rivcr con j trol or protectiou works and, as u I member of the eentral council, he coubl ! say that the majority of these requests j for assistance were for river banking ! on rich fertile fiat lands. Ile was a j back-country man himself, and without ! being parochial in the matter he could ! say that he would not ilenvo any beue- i fits from such works. Catchment boards { were very necessary in New Zealand j to-day, and soil conservation was as j much a matter for tliose in the city as | in the country. A motion by Mr. McKay that tlie] counties' association l>e asked to give! all support possible to catchment board.- \ in securing greater allocations towards j the costs of river control work, lapsed ! for the want of a seconder. ! A further motion by .Mr. Craig, j scconded by Mr. Colqnhoun, that tlie ! counties' association be asked to make 1 an emphatic protest against aiiy amend- j nient to the Soil Conservation aml River I Control Act which would give catch- I ment boards power to strike a fiat rate ! for works within their areas, was j carried. J Mr. McKay: The cities and boroughs i are going to evade their respousibilitios. I