PLAINS ADMINISTRATION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4427, 14 June 1922, Page 1

PLAINS ADMINISTRATION

SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS*. STATEMENTS BY MINISTER. CONFERENCE WITH COUNCIL. The Hon D. HL Guthrie, Minister of Lands, wrote to the Hauraki Plains County Council as fpllows : Referring to iny letter of February 10 last, forwarding you a copy of a Bill wli'ich had been drafted for the purpose of amending the Hauraki Plains Act, 1908 ; also to your letter of March 10 last, advising me that your Council would like to have replies to certain questions raised therein, I have to advise you as follows : “(a) 'Does the Department propose to metal roads in the special area ?’ “The Department does propose to reserve to itself the right tp metal certain roads ip special area, having due regard to necessity, desirability, and finance being available, but may elect alternatively .to place a portion of expenditure in the hands of the County Council under usual conditions. "(b) 'Does the Department propose to restrict the drainage rate to the maintenance of. drains pnly in that area which is to be made subject to a general rate V “(1) The Department will not strike a drainage maintenance rate on any area which is handed over to a drainage district for maintenance, ditches, channels, etc., or in cases where the county council may elect to undertake the functions of a drainage board. (2) The Department must strike a drainage maintenance rate in <>ny area not controlled by a drainage district. (3) It is intended as far as possible to restrict the drainage rate to the maintenance ofl drains, channels, and floodgates, and any pubHc utilities which: the county does not take over. "(c) 'While exempting the Netherton area from the drainage rate, will the Department also exempt Tahuna, Mangatarata, and other similarly situated areas from such rate ?’ '7l) No; the position is different, as the Nethertpn area had two drainage rates imposed on it by reason of the Hauraki Drainage District coming into being subsequent to the Haur,aki Plains rating area. To remedy this anomaly it is proposed to exempt the small Netherton area from Hauraki Plains rating. (2) It is inadvisable to exempt the Tahuna and Mangatarata areas. (3) The reclassification recently put in hand: will largely . remedy any disability. “(d) ‘ls it intended that the word ‘occupied,’ in section 2 of the Bill, shall have the same meaning as that of the word 'occupier’ in the Rating Act ?’

“Yes, the word 'occupied’ shall have the same meaning as the word 'occupier.* "(e) ‘To what extent does the Department Intend to carry on operas tions in the area made subject to the general rate ?’ "To construct, complete, and improve stop-banks apd floodgates deemed necessary, and tp ‘clay’ all roads through the peat country. “(f) ‘Does the Department intend to reclassify the drainage area, and

will permission be given to the Council to be represented at the reclassification ?’ “Yes; area is now being reclassified. The Act provided for the appointment of a sole appraiser. The appraiser appointed is an l experienced; unbiased man, and not a Government official. There did not appear to be any*necessity for the Hauraki Plains County Council to be represented at the reclassification as the appraiser’s duties are well defined by statute, and he is presumed to be free of ai’. influence. / “If your Council has any comments to make on the Bill as drafted I Shall be obliged if you will please let me have them as soon as possible, as I propose to forward it to the law draughtsman for revision with the view of its introduction at an early stage of the forthcoming session.” CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. The clerk said the Lands Department had deputed Messrs E. Taylor and Campbell to confer with: the Council. Mr. Taylor had suggested Thursday, 15th ipst., for the conference. It vzas decided to meet the Department’s officials on the 28th inst.