PLAINS ADMINISTRATION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4434, 30 June 1922, Page 2

PLAINS ADMINISTRATION

proposed amendments. PROPOSALS BY DEPARTMENT. ACCEPTED BY COUNCIL. To discuss matters of. vital importance concerning the future administration of; the Hauraki Plains, representatives of the Lands Drainage Department met the Hauraki Plains County Council in conference at Ngatea on Wednesday. In the interests of the Department there were present Mr O. N. Campbell (acting chief lands drainage engineer) and Mr E. Taylor (resident lands drainage engineer), while with Mr J. C. Miller (County chairman), there were the following : Crs.C. W. Harris, C. W Parfitt,. A. Chatfield, W. G. Hayward, and J- F. Mayn. The proposals of the Department were contained in a draft bill recently submitted to the Council and published in the “Gazette" at the time when it was first laid on the Council table. Briefly, the proposals are that the Council should take over the control of certain lands and roads now under Government administration and to accept the ownership ofl the wharves on the Piako River. After the matters had undergone thorough investigation and all points fully discussed, the Council agreed to accept the proposals. The clerk, Mr E. Walton, read the Council’s resolution that the Government be asked to make certain alterations in the existing Act to enable the Council to control additional lands. The Department’s reply ‘io several of the Council’s queries and the d r aft bill were also read. Mr Campbell, in explanation, said all lands occupied for a period of three years would be liable for County rates. Mr,. Walton said practically the whole of the Plains would then be under the Council’s control except the soldiers’ settlements at Ngarua, Torebape and Maukoro canal at Waitakaruru. Orongo was outside of the exempted area and was not affected by the amendment. WHARF OWNERSHIP. Cr. Harris, regarding the wharves, asked would the Government be privh legr-d to use the wharves for the Handing of road metal. Mr Campbell: Yes. Cr Harris: Would it give the Government . right to erect overhead gear to block up the entrance to the wharves ? Mr Campbell: The Council and the Department are working in the same interest. Or. Hayward : Are the wharves the property of; the Department ? I understand the wharves were the property of the settlers. Mr Campbell: No. The wharves are the property of the Crown. The drainage of the Plains would be an actua l loss and would not be recompensed by the value of the land. Mr Walton said the capital expenditure was charged to the land. Mr Campbell;: No, that is entirely wrong. Mr Walton said out of the Hauraki Plains settlement account was paid moneys for the development of the land. The money that came into the account, did not equal the money which went out. The wharves had been paid but of the account. Mr Campbell said the lands were not taxed with the cost of the wharves. The necessity for wharves had been apparent, and there was no body except the Crown to build them. He presumed a satisfactory price would be arranged fpr the wharves.

PROGRESS AND SETTLEMENT. Mr Campbell said it was propose 1 to hand over all lands occupied for three years to the County so as to g’ve f b i2 County local control. Cr. Mayn said the local control was only to collect rates. Mr Campbell said the idea was one of progress and to help the settlement. . Cr.. Mayn said that the Government would be relieved ofi a certain responsibility. Mr Campbell : If the handing over of the land was not beneficial it would not have the Government’s backing. The Government had its heart and soul in the interests of that area, and in their opinion it was in tihle interests of; .the settlers to give all land occupied for three years tp the county. Cr. Mayn said that some roads needed reclaying. Mr. Campbell said the Department would do any reclaying that was necessary. Cr. Mayn thought, the proposed Bill was indefinite. One portion of the Paletonga road had been clayed and reclayed, and still required attention. Mr. Campbell saidjthe Department would not hand over any roads which were not in a fit condition. Cr. Mayn further said that there were some lands not sufficiently drained, and would have to pay rates to the County, and some of the settlers could not make a living. Mr. Campbell said that those men would be rated accordingly. He hinted that a revaluation would probably take place if the administration was altered. Mr. Taylor said that in the reclassification for drainage purposes there would probably be made two classesPATETONGA LANDS. Cr. Mayn said, it would be a cruel thing to collect .rates off the settlers along the Tramline, at Patetbnga. It would be dear land if the settlers got it for nothing. Mr. Campbell said that it that land had been anywhere else than bn the Hauraki Plains it would have been rated by the county, and have to pay a drainage rate as wel\ - Cr. Mayn did not think a general rate should be collected from land that would get no benefits from itsaid the settlers on a section of the Patetcnga road had been on the laud for eight years. The land was some of the best in New Zealand, but it could not be drained. land was subsiding, but the riven was hot going down. Cr. Harris: Is it the intention of the Lands Department to letain lands occupied for over three years for the purpose of drainage ?

Mr. Campbell: From, the drainage point of view the Bill Would remain the same. The Bill power to hand over any land to a drainage board. • Or. Harris: Has it power to hand over any land on the Maukoro canal ? Mr. Campbell said the Hand was no: necessarily rated higher because it bordered on a canal. ROAD METALLING. Mr. Walton asked if the Council should take over other than metalled roads. Mr. Campbell said he could see that the County would not desire to take over other than metalled roads. The Government had spent a .tremendous amount of money bn metalling and wharfage. The Government had drained the country, formed 50 odd miles of| roads, and built the wharves. The maintenance of wharves was small. The Crown could not .go on indefinitely and take the responsibility of metalling roads. Cr. Mayn asked if it would not be a good thing if they did. Mr. Campbell said it wohld be outside the scope of the Crown. There should be no reason why the Hauraki Plains should not be under the same position as other districts. Mr. Walton said that where the land was hot. Crbwn land the work was done under the basis of £1 for £l. If. a syndicate had cut the land up the County wou,Jd have insisted that the roads be metalled. Mr. Campbell said that if a syndicate was subdividing, the owners of the land paid for it eventually. In this case the Government had paid for it so far. Mr. Walton said that by the methods of the Government the burden was to be put on the wrong person. Mr. Campbell said the County would get up metalling proposals for a remaining area and strike a special rate over the whole of the County. Cr. Mayn: And make those on the unmetalled roads pay for those who get metal ? Mr. Campbell said the only equitable way was to spread the rate over the whole of the County. Cr. Hayward asked ‘how could; they get a loan-like that carried, Mr. Campbell said there was never any guarantee that the roads would be metalled, even under the first ballot. Mr. Walton said it was the interpretation of a completed road that the road should be metalled. Cr. Parfitt said that it had been maintained by the Crown Law Office that a completed road was a metalled road. Mr. Campbell said that was news to him. The Government had been paying out subsidies to areas in other parts of. the Dominion and had seen no reason why a subsidy should not be granted to this area also. Mr. Walton asked that if the word “complied” was in the leases, and a “completed” road meant a metalled road, would the Crown be prepared to metal the roads ? Mr. Campbell said in that case the County had power to compel the Government to metal the roads. Mr. Walton: Assuming that "completed” was there, and that ap opinion of the Crown Law Office was that a completed! road was a metalled road,, would the Government metal the roads without force ? Mr. Campbell said the Government would then be duty bound. There Was n'o possibility of the Crown going ahead with the metalling indefinitely. It was out of the question to expect that the Government would go on metalling indefinitely. Mr Miller said that several of the settlers were emphatic that one of the conditions on which they took up the land was that the land should be drained and the rbads metalled. Mr. Campbell! said the Lands Department was out for the progress of the district the same as the County Council was. Cr. Mayn said the County would have to be careful how it moved in that matter. Mr,. Campbell said that whichever way it went the Hauraki Plains had concessions which no other place in New Zealand had received. Mr. Walton suggested the. Council passing a resolution that if there was any obligation made with the first and second ballots it was subject to the carrying out o’ any bargain that was made by the Department. Cr. Mayn moved in that direction and the motion was carried unanimously. THE METALLING PROBLEM. Mr. Campbell said the Plains was fortunate in that it had both the Public Works and Lands Departments, .......Or.Harris : If we take over the roads, would it mean that the Department would stop metalling ? ; Mr. Campbell said the Department still had the right to metal any roads as it thought fit. He further said the Government would not go op metalling roads as it had been doing- They had gone on two or three years longer than they had anticipated; Cr, Mayn said the Department could do metalling better than the County could. Mr. Campbel] said that local government was the order of the day, and it was not the policy of the Government to continue metalling. Mr. Walton asked if-.the Department proposed to metal roads in special areas, Mr. Campbell could not commit the Government to further expenditure, and he did not think the Minister would at present. Mr. Walton asked what was the intention of the Department? Mr. Campbell replied that they had no policy, re al J y, except to spend sums of money from year to year granted by the Government. The Department was rpally in the position of a local body, (having power only to spend money as it was granted by the Government, Mr. Walton said every additional road was a burden on the land. It was proposed to create a sufficient number of roads to give each small holder access, and the Council would have to maintain them. Mr. Campbell said the Crown reserves the right, to sub-divide its land as it thinks fit. Mr. Walton said the Department might create a position which was a

difficulty to the Council.. Mr. Miller understood that any future land to be taken up would be roaded. The roads would be completed and metalled, Mr. Campbell said the blocks affected would be rated. It was not the intention of the Government to metal all roads in the future. The Government could not possibly go on with it. . Mr. Miller said it was very expensive to get metal, and if the settlers themselves had to do all the metalling it would be better for them to walk off the land. Mr. Campbell said there was a future ahead of the county which no other portion of the country had. Members, in a chorus: And a big future expenditure. Mr. Miller said the County was not asking for anything unreasonable. Mr. Campbell: Taking conditions as they are. to-day, would you exchange any area on the Plains for any area in other districts ? Cr. Mayn contended that not more than 25 per cent, of the Plains was under production. Mr. Campbell: Oh, Mr. Mayn ! Cr. Mayn said most of the farms were not fully cultivated. CONSULTING THE COUNCIL. Mr. Walton asked if the Department wolud put its reading proposals before the Council when proposing to road a block. Mr. Campbell said, the actual future and possibilities of the County had had to be demonstrated before the Government had commenced its work. Mr. Walton said a lot of problems would be obviated if the Department discussed the matter with the Council and worked in concert with it. The Council at present knew nothing of the Department’s intentions. Mr. Campbell said that any sugges-i tion from the Council would receive consideration. Mr. Walton: But the Council could not make suggestions unless it knew wh'at the Department intended to do. Mr. Campbell said that any suggestions in the interests of the district would be considered. Cr. Mayn suggested that the Department send plans of loading schemes it had in view. The Council may see fit to suggest improvements. Mr. Campbell said . there could never be any suggestions of delaying the works till they got the Council’s opinion on them. The Department was dealing with, a large area of unsettled country and the Council had no say in the development of that country. Mr. Walton said the County had control of certain matters in those areas, such as health, so that matters concerning that land were county matters. Mr. Campbell said the proposal was an exceptional one, and he could not commit the Department. Cr. Mayn asked if it was the inten-< tion of the Department to continue making the chain road. Mr. Taylor: No, a chain and a-half road. Cr. Harris wanted to know if; the Department would metal the main Maukoro canal road. Mr. Campbell said the Government could not possibly commit themselves to go on with the metalling of roads. COLLECTION OF RATES. Cr. Mayn said there were areas quite fit to go on to eight years ago, but had not advanced since. The Countv could do nothing except collect rates. The whole secret of the success of farming these lands was drainage. There were still areas affected by flooding, and’the settlers could not expect fit returns. Mr, Campbel! said the County had power to remit rates. Mr. Walton: Only on the grounds of hardship. Cr. Miller asked Cr. Mayn’ what area was affected. Cr. Mayn: Oh, a considerable area. He suggested that the County should sort out what lands were efficiently served by metalled roads. Cr. Harris said there was only one small 1 section which would reap the benefit of metalled roads. Cr. Mayn contended that the County should not take over a rpad unless •■it was. a good metalled road. It would be a hardship on the settlers. Mr. Miller said there was a lot of land paying a double rate. Mr. Walton asked how soon could the” Department reclay the Patetonga road. Mr. Taylor promised that as sobn as the road required reclaying the Department would do it. Mr, Campbell: You may rest assured that the ro,ads will be handed over to you in a fit condition. Mr. Walton asked fjhould the Department be asked ,to resurface .worn metalled roads. Mr. Campbell: We are not making special conditions, but we are just putting this district under the same conditions as othier areas. DEFINING THE AREA. Cr. Miller: If we are not satisfied with the amendments, are there any reasonable' suggestions ? Cr, Parfitt: Can we take it that rhe defined area would be the only area, which would be handed oven? He further asked if* they could substitute five years for three years-. Mr. Campbell said it would be a big concession. Cr. Parfitt said tihfere were settlers on the Maukoro canal and Pourou roads who could not pay their rates for 10 years. He suggested that the Council’s suggestion that the area be defined be accepted by the Department. Mr. Campbell said he could not commit the Department. He further stated that consideration would be given to any reasonable proposal. Cr. Parfitt said that some pf the areas had had very .reasonable exemption, but there were other portions that were hard hit. Cr. Mayn said an equitable basis should not be on time, but on the condition of. the land. Cr. Hayward moved: “While the Council is quite agreeable to take over the area defined by the Council, that it registers its protest against the additional area proposed by the Department.” Cr. Mayn, seconding, said it was a protest against the consequences of the three years’ exemption. Cr. Parfitt could not agree to the

motion as it did not take in enough country. If the Council stuck to the proposal it was going back on its previous request. Cr. Mayn did not think tha twita regard to the administration rate the Council was going back on its previous suggestion. He would vote for the proposal. He would not mind a provision to extend bhe area. Cr. Hayward said his object in moving the resolution was that the Department had done so well in the area it was proposed to take over that they might have a chance of getting a concession. Cr. Miller: Perhaps it would, be better to throw the whole thing out till ■ the roads are done. Cr. Harris said a promise had been made to metal the canal road at Waitakaruru. Cr. Parfitt: Could you extend the area to include the upper portion of the Puhunga canal and Maukoro canal ? Cr. Harris: No. Cr. Hayward favoured' extending the area. Cn. Mayn suggested adding to the motion that the Department, have power to extend the area from time to time. Cr. Miller said that by sticking to a defined area they may be excluding a number of settlers who could pay rates better than those inside the area. Mr. Campbell said a reasonable proposal was to put the area on a similar footing as other districts, but tjhie Department was giving a concession in excluding land for three years. Cr. Mayn : Can we extend the area ? Cr. Miller: I think we can and should put it before these men. Cr. Mayn asked if- power could be given to the Council to remit rates under certain conditions prevailing. Mr, Campbell thought there was sufficient power in the Act. now to exempt rates in cases of 'hardship. Cr. Mayn thought those powers were not wide enough. Cr. Parfitt: I think the best we can do is to accept the whole Bill as it stands. Cr. Mayn asked if a clause could be included to exempt rates where it was found necessary. Cr. Harris: We have t'h'e power now to exempt them. Mr. Walton said the Council could exempt rates or take no action, in which 'ease the rates would eventually be written off. Cr. Mayn : I would he quite satisfied to accept the Bill, as i* is, if I was quite certain we had power to excmiot rates. Mr. Campbell said that Mr. Walton’s suggestion could be carried out. Cr. Parfitt moved an amendment that the area be extended to include to the southern end of the Puhunga canal and the civilian settled area on the Maukoro canal. Cr. Harris said that amendment could not stand, as it would be alter"ing a resolution already on the Council's books. The amendment had no seconder, so it. lapsed. Cr. Hayward’s motion was lost on the chairman’s casting vote. RATING AREA. Cr. Mayn moved that the Council adopt the Government’s, proposal regarding the rating area, with the addition that the Council have power to exempt areas from rates where it considers road formation not of a permanent nature and drainage not of such an effective nature as to allow occupants to profitably farm their lands. If that clause were included in the Act it would enable the Council to define a rating area which would be satisfactory. The Council, he thought, was competent to judge what area was able tp z pay rates, ani its power would not be abused. The Council should not adhere to metalled roads areas. There were some cases where settlers could nqt put metal on their roads, and the Council could not. do the work. By the way the Department was working the drainage problem would be settled. Cr,. Miller said that the Council would be putting its head into a noose. He thought it would be leading up to a lot of trouble. Cr. Harris said he was quite in accord with an administrative rate over the land.

Cr. Parfitt seconded the proposition. There would be, conditions on the Plains vzhere some people W< uhl (have to be exempt from rates under the Bill. Some of the peat land would have to be exempt for the next 10 years. Cr. Chatfield moved an amendment that the Council accept the Bill, ex'cept that deep peat land's be exempted. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. Cr.. Mayn’s motion was defeated by 4' to 2. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS. Cr. Miller moved .that section 2 of the Bill be approved. Seconded by Cr. Hayward and carried. The clause referred to stated that after three years all lands should be subject to a general rate. Section 3, giving power to the settlers to constitute drainage areas was agreed to. CONTROL OF WHARVES Section 4 dealt with the proposal to hand over t,’he control of the wharves to the County Council. Mr. Campbell said that this clause would only come into force if an agreement was arrived at. Cr. Hayward thought' the Department should give the Council the wharves, some of which were very shaky. Mr. Walton asked if wharves, jetties, and goodsheds were the only things the Department wanted to sellMr. Campbell said the Department had power to sell other buildings at any time, but it required special legislation to sell the wharves. Cr. Hayward said it was a very small thing, and the Department should give the wharves. Cr. Harris said there would be an objection. If the price was considered to be unsatisfactory and toe Council did not accept, the Department might let the wharves fall' into a very bad state of disrepair. He asked if the Department would maintain them o v let. them rot. MY. Campbell thought the County

was the right body to control them. Cr. Parfitt moved that this clause be accepted, providing flhe price of the wharves was a nominal one. Seconded by Cr. Chatfield and carried. Clause 5, that the Nethertpn area be exempt from a drainage, rate, was accepted. Cr. Hayward asked if it would be possible to get any proposition into the Bill whereby the Governmen: would contribute so much to tibe metalling of umnetalled roads. Mr. Campbell said the. County would get fair treatment in the matter of grants. THANKS. Cr. Chatfield moved a hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Campbell and Taylor. Cr. Mayn seconded, and the motion was carried with acclamation. Mr. Campbell apologised 'for Mr. J. B. Thompson’s absence. As far as agreeing with tjhe. clauses was concerned, he thought the Lands Department would be behind the County.