ROTOKOHU RATEPAYERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4414, 15 May 1922, Page 3

ROTOKOHU RATEPAYERS.

REPRESENTATIVE MEETING. A very, representative meeting of the Rotokohu Ratepayers’ Association was held on Friday night, Mr W. F. Johnstone presiding. The secretary (Mr W. D. Keys) read several letters and telegrams fjrom the Minister of Lands and Minister of. Public Works. The follpwing letter from the Hon. Minister of Lands was considered, very satisfactory, and has been suitably replied to. expressing the thanks of the Association for the services of the Minister : “With reference to the representaions made by a deputation from your Association which approached me at "• Paeroa on the 3rd ultimo: I 'have to advise you that I have now been informed by the Hon. the Minister of ■; Public Works that he has already authe cpnwicnceihent of the stop-bank in the Rotokohu area, which will fulfil the request of your organisation. I trust this information will be satisfactory to you.’’ ; *lt was pointeci out that sfjop-bank- ; ing had started at the abattoirs, on • the Rotokohu area, but settlers were pressing, for further work to be let at different portions of- the river, especially in the . lower areas towards . the old junction. In this regard the i secretary had already written to the Minister, pointing out that work on . stop-banks had been promised to settldrs and asking that the same should be started where settlers could avail themselves of the work. A wire of acknowledgment has ■ been received in this connection by the secretary from the Minister.' COMPENSATION.' The questions of compensation for. settlers who would be forced, from their farms and homes by the completion of stop banks on the Ohinemuri River was fully discussed/.and ‘ the general opinion of the meeting was in flavour of giving the Minister of Public Works every opportunity to -meet the settlers affected before taking any further steps in the matter. The unanimous opinion of the meeting was that the Minister w*ts a man of his word, and in view of his statement that the settlers affected would have their- position dealt with within a month of the Minister’s visit to Paeroa, 'that the Association await the Department’s reply in the matter. ROTOKOHU EAST'DRAIN. The question ofl obtaining a subsidy from the Public Works Department in regard to the extension of the Rotokohu East drain- was gone into, and the settlers concerned were now pre-* paring estimates, to be forwarded to the Minister of Public Works, in the matter. » ' REFERENCE BOARD.' In view of the fact that there are several members of the Association who also represent other bodies on ’ the Thames Valley Diainage Reference Board, the following iesolutions were passed, to be unanimously supported by the different bodies at the coming conference: “That adequate compensation be given to all owners of lands affected by improvement works on the rivers. “That' the Betterment Clause be made a charge on the whole area affected by the works, and not as at present, on individuals. “That the special claims of setters on the right banks of the Ohinemuri River for compensation be recognised, and their position dealt with befpre erection of stop-banks on the left bank; That the present dangerous position of the Rotokohu settlers be also recognised, and that every effort be made to have the Public Works Department expedite the compcnsa-. tion and protection of the above areas without delay.