THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1922. REDUCING THE COST.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4393, 22 March 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1922. REDUCING THE COST.

« On more than one occasion, when dealing with the cost of the River Improvements Scheme, we have pointed out the utter injustice of taxing people for this work without’giving them any representation whatever in respect to the expenditure of the money, or any voice in the policy to be pursued. Where a tax of any kind is levied for national purposes, the voice of the taxpayer can be heard only through their representatives in Parliament, or per medium of the newspapers as a rule, but.in a particular work for which a given district is taxed those who pay should have a voice in the expenditure of their money. Not that the farmers in this district have anything to complain about in this respect yet, for they have not up to the present been asked to contribute ; but they will not be so fortunate in future years. Two. of the basic principles of taxation are : (1) The ability of the man to pay; (2) the benefits receivable. In the River Improvements Scheme there is much room for debate under both heads. However, the fact remains that certain work has been in hand for some years, and has admittedly been of great benefit in some areas, even though there is much room for complaint. This work cannot stop half-way; it must proceed, and the money must be found to pay for it. But when the cost of a scheme is advanced from £IEO,OOO to £650,000, it is time to consider ways of reducing the total. The Hauraki Plains County Council, at its last monthly meeting, protested against the cost, but the report did not indicate methods whereby the estimate could be appreciably reduced. What is wanted is that a body like the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board should tabulate data indicating the methods by which the cost might be reduced without seriously prejudicing the work of protecting the farm lands, or of shelving the navigation question. For instance, it is contended by some people that certain areas are not worth the cost of protection from flooding, and that these areas should be cut out of the scheme altogether. Also, it was admitted by a Public Works Department representative giving evidence before the Rivers Commission that much Crown land had been sold which should have been, but was not, loaded with a proportion of the costs of protection. As there is much more Crown land yet tc- be disposed of, this mistake should not be made a second time. We are all liable to err, none being infallible, but it is truly said that only a fool fails to profit by expedience. The loading of this as yet unsold Crown land might reduce the taxation, very considerably. Tn respect to navigation, if some of the evidence given before the 1921 Commission was acted upon, the Ohinemuri River could be dredged without placing any burden upon the farmers. It was pointed out that the old Waihi—Paeroa Gold Extraction Company, Limited, lifted thousands of tons of silt out of the Ohinemuri River for sixpence per ton, and that if a tax of 4d per ton was levied for all silt of a certain “mesh” (silt that would pass through a givenmesh), this amount would pay for its removal again from a catchment basin, as one-third would be taken out to sea, leaving only two-thirds to be removed. Mining experts admitted that a charge of 4d per ton would not mean the crippling of the industry. With the river cleared the drains would have a better outfall, and the danger of floods would be minimised. It ’is all very well to clamour for a reduction of cost, but such demands would receive a much more respectful hearing if accompanied by constructive suggestions as to how the desired end is to be attained. Valuable time is being lost, and in view of the importance of the question the parties concerned should hasten to make serviceable representations to the Government with a view to getting the total cost of the scheme reduced ; this consummation would be more easily brought about than would an alteration in the allocations, and it would mean +!■><■> s»n->p i-fiin'- hi ilv end- 2 —Hie (eduction of costs to all parties.