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THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1925. HORAHIA DRAINAGE.

Very little advancement in the matter of .the control of dual drainp, the construction of new drains, or the utilisation of drains from the Horahia Drainage Board’s area to the Waihou River through the territory administered by the Hauraki Drainage Board has as yet been made. The Hauraki Board recently offered to meet the Horahia Board in an informal conference so that, if possible, a better understanding of the many difficulties that both boards are experiencing could be arrived at. No decisions on any of the vital questions were to be made, but it was thought that a round-table discussion would smooth the way and put a slop to the voluminous correspondence which has been passing between the two boards, and which has, if anything, tended to make the relations more strained. The Hauraki Board’s opinion wag that the vital questions could not be settled until the Horahia Board had made up its mind definitely as to what it required and had given the Hauraki Board time to fully consider the matter. The offer wajs ignored by the Horahia Board, yet at its last meeting many members expressed a desire to know a number of things which would have been explained at the. conference. Both bodies are of the opinion that the whole area would be better administered by one board, but each board is trying to drive as hard a bargain as possible for the benefit of its ratepayers, as is Only natural, considering that the position is so. complicated. A Commission has been suggested many times as a means of settling the difficulty, but it is recognised that this is an expensive way, and there is the chance that an inquiry by a commission of outsiders not wholly familiar with the local conditions, and having to judge solely on evidence given, might make an award which, while absolutely binding, would not be the fairest for both parties. The difficulties are not sogreat that they could not be settled amicably by mutual agreement if

both parties approached the matter in a give-and-take spirit. Such a way is much to be preferred, and a preliminary conference as was suggested would go a long way towards making this possible. The extent of the difficulties is fully realised by the members of the Hauraki Board, who, having been in office for a long time, as fully conversant, with the ins and outs of local, body administration and drainage problems. That board knows its rates are almost up to the maximum allowed by law, and had it not been for the flood damage grants received this year some of the work acknowledged to be necessary would have been left undone. In repairing flood damage various, minor cleanings and improvements have been effected, such as, for instance, the rebattering of a badly slipped drain has increased its carrying capacity. As a drain is enlarged, so is the cost of maintenance increased. The Hauraki Board will be striking its rates within the next month, and it is, probable that these will be increased slightly to the legal limit. Thus it will be seen that should the Horahia-Board construct outlets to the Waihou River and call on the Hauraki Board to contirbute towards the maintenance, this could only be done by neglecting other work. While it cannot be denied that the construction of new outlets from the Horahia area to the Waihou River would benefit portions of the Hauraki Board’s area, it is certain that the ratepayers of that area do not consider them of sufficient warrant to vote for a loan for, their construction. Existing outlets in' the Hauraki area are in most cases considered sufficient for requirements if maintained in thorough order, and if they are to be enlarged for the benefit of the back country the contention that the back country should pay for the improvement seems a sound one, particularly when it is remembered that the cost of maintenance to the Hauraki Board would be increased as. the size of the outlets were increased. It also seems hardly likely that a commission would take an opposite view, and it is doubtful if it would have power to compel the raising of a loan without a poll of ratepayers in the event of it deciding that the Hauraki area should contribute.

■ of the Hauraki Board are awiare of a fact which the Hdfahia Board seems to have overlooked—that its. rates are up to the legal limit. Yet that board is talking of a big loan, for new outlets, and the question of how these are to be maintained has not been settled. Maintenance costs seem t obe ever increasing, and in the Plains riverbank country some solution of the problem, such as concreting the drain bottomjs or fluming, will have to be found. Though the cost may be great, theie is no question, provided the method adopted proves satisfactory, that this will be the cheapest in the long run. In considering the actions of the two boards in the past; it must be borne in mind that the Hauftiki Board knows its mind and what it wants, as well ais an idea of, the best means of getting it, while the Hbrahia Board is still ignorant in the way of experience, and dobs not yet know what it wants beyond sundry vague ideas, and its members have not yet. learned to co-operate and trust one another. Certainly little if any progress has been made, and it cannot be said that some harm has- not 1 been done by its treatment of the Hauraki Board. The situation is complicated, but it is not insurmountable. Perhaps it would be as well for the Horahia Board to defer consideration of new dual drain matters until it has its scheme thoroughly worked cut and finalised. Even ■ with the smoothest sailing it is doubtful if work can be done in time to give relief next winter, and when it is remembered that work done cannot be undone, and money spent takes 36% yeans’ rates to repay, is it not advisable to proceed cautiously, even - though it does take a little time ?

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HPGAZ19250904.2.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4873, 4 September 1925, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,046

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1925. HORAHIA DRAINAGE. Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4873, 4 September 1925, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1925. HORAHIA DRAINAGE. Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4873, 4 September 1925, Page 2

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