TRANSFER OF AREA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4909, 30 November 1925, Page 3

TRANSFER OF AREA.

HORAHIA DRAINAGE SUGGESTED SOLUTION. ’ The position between the Hauraki and Horahia drainage boards, is still as strained as ever, and as far from a settlement as. ever. Briefly, the posi--tion is that the Horahia Board, controlling areas that drain to the, Waihou River, desires to provide improved facilities in that direction, and desiree the Hauraki Board to help'pay for these improvements on the score that a benefit will be received. The Hauraki Board does no,t admit the benefits, and declines to contribute as requested. It is agreeable to a commission to settle ,the differences that exist and which may arise. .The Horahia Board is of the opinion that amalgamation of the whole are t a under one board would be a solution, but in this proposal the Hauraki Board sees the interests of its ratepayers and area swamped by the voting strength of the Horahia area. A suggestion -has been mentioned several times by the settlers of the area concerned, and it seems to be a satisfactory solution .to the whole difficulty for all time, as it wbuld remove the cause of the difficulty. The suggestion is that the portion of the Horahia drainage district that drains to the Waihou River be transferred to the Hauraki Board. This area was defined by the Horahia Board’s engineer when he drew up the Horahia drainage scheme, and though alterations may be necessary it could serve as a basis. If the suggestion could be given effect to the Horahia Board would be concerned with the land draining to the Piako- River and. the Hauraki Board with the land draining to the Waihou' River. Thus, there would be no- dual controlled drains and no need for amalgamation to be effected in .the interests of the district as. a. whole except ais a means of reducing the'Cost of administration. The suggestion was first made by the Hauraki Board with! the committee appointed to deal with the formation of the Horahia drainage district. It was next officially mentioned by the new member of the Horahia Board, Mr. S. S. Murray, at the last meeting. There is reason to suppose that the Hauraki Board would still agree to take in the area, if the settlers petitioned in that direction. The matter is one for- the settlers of the area concerned. The boards cannot act on their own. The Horahia 1 -Board will be holding a special meeting on Friday next to ..finalise the details ' of the comprehensive scheme loan proposal, too that it can be put to the ratepayers as soon as possible.' If the settlers of the area concerned still .think the suggestion worth adopting, now is the time to .act .