THE REFERENCE BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4409, 3 May 1922, Page 3

THE REFERENCE BOARD.

REASON FOR EXISTENCE,. EXPLAINED TO MINISTER. THE BETTERMENT CLAUSE. Mr W. K. McLean (Kerepeehi), on behalf of the Thames Valley Drainage Reference Board, submitted the fol-owing to the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) on Wednesday : “The functions of the Board are to forward all matters of public or re preventative import in which the delegating bodies are interested and which are of general interest, the object being to bring, the combined influences of the representatives to bear in promoting such matters as, in the opinions of the delegates, merit its collective support. Primarily the Board was formed to urge on the Government the necessity for expediting and completing the protective work on the Waihou River, and widening and deepening the Awaiti Stream, .and oC dealing with any matter that may arise in any manner incidental there.to.

“Subsequently the objects were extended fo embrace any matter of public importance in the Thames VaJUey district which might be submitted to the Board for its consideration. “The object? of the Board is to assist in all matters of general benefit, and to push such matter forward compatible with the interests ofj all parties. Il is to combine in an influential combination of efforts that have hitherto been left to individual bodies .to forward. It would also be availab’e to collect information on any special matters, and be a board of reference to which departments and other bodies may .refer for information of assistance.’’AN INIQUITOUS CLAUSE. The following comments of royal commissions were also quoted: “Under the provisions bEj “The Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act, 1910,” the betterment principle operates in such p way that the riparian owners have to bear all the loss of land without adequate payment, while those more remote from the river whose physical betterment is greater (generally much greater) obtain this without any loss of Band.’’ “It the provisions of the, law at present are such that the riparian owners may receive practically no money in exchange for the 1 land taken from them, and any compensation due to. them is to be offset largely or whollly by betterment in which many others share, then the law- should be amended.” “Yoirr Commissioners consider that £he betterment principle as laid down by the "Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers’ Improvement Act, 1910,” is inequitable x and should be . amended, it bearing unjustly on the riaprian owners.” ....

Mr McLean ailso pointed put that the 1921 Commission advocated either the abolition or the revision Betterment Clause. Every coirimission bad advocated bn similar lines. The Minister agreed that the Betterment Clause was entirely unjust, and that he would see to the alteration of it in the impending new legislation. .