PATETONGA GRIEVANCES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5030, 22 September 1926, Page 3

PATETONGA GRIEVANCES

INVESTIGATION BY COMMISSION.

SITTING RESUMED.

The Commission appointed by the Minister of Lands to inquire into the grievances, of the Patetonga settlers continued its investigations yesterday, The Commission on its tour of inspection was accompanied by Messrs E. Taylbr, Lands. Drainage Engineer, W. Thompson, Lands Department foreman, Cr.' J. F. Mayn, and Messrs W. Wallace and A. Whiteman, chairman and secretary respectively of the local Ratepayers’ Association. After hearing further evidence in camera of Tramline Road settlers an inspcctionywas. ma ; de df the land near the lower Patetonga Rorfd towards Kaihere. This area is liable, to serious and prologed flooding by stormwater, as the outlets to the river have also to carry the streams from the bare hills. In wet weather these hill creeks are swollen torrents, and the rush of water overflows, the low-lying land and also backs up the lateral drains, preventing them from operating. On snix occasions since last Christmas the lower Patetonga road has been under.water, and at one time it was two feet deep. As the claying of the road has. built it up toi a higher level than the adjacent lands the plight of the settlers can be imagined.

As a solution the, settlers advocated the construction of a new outlet for local water only, and pointed out that this would obviate .the necessity of continually improving the existing outlets and the lateral drains, eading into them. The site suggested for the new outlet was -along a boundary about 16 chains from the corner of the lower road, and it was pointed out that in 'addition to effecting a great improvement the utilisation of the route suggested would be the salvation of the adjoining farms, which were in a very bad way. ,

Mr Taylor maintained that the widening of Taku’s outlet would be preferable, being less costly both for construction and maintenance. The suggested drain would, however, mean thtit some farms would have a Gov-ernment-maintained drain on three sides. The policy laid down by the department, and which he had to adhere to, was ( to doi maintenance work up to the amount. <Jf rates available. Under this policy, if more work was desired an increase in rates was necessary. This was a point that should be considered. Mr Taylor observed that he was not commenting on the, policy, but was merely pointing it out for general information. The matter of Taku’s. drain had been taken iip with Mr J./B. Thompsoh, and as a result it had been agreed to have it 1 enlarged as an experiment. The result was satisfactory for one winter, until the consolidation df the peat had caused.a loss of fall.

Cr. Mayn, one Of spokesmen for the settlers, urged that the cost of the work should not be given undue prominence. The wbrk would mean all the difference between making it possible to live on certain sections or not.

Mr F. W. Walters, one of the Commission, agreed, and observed that it would be found that the Gofvernment had plenty of money. Probably to remove any misapprehensioln he added that of course it was necessary to see that an expenditure was warranted and the money spent properly. Cr. Mayn made a plea for not placing an undue burden on the ratepayers, as their disability, would then be as bad as at present. Mr Walters stated that the Minister df Lands thoroughly understood this., and at a recent conference with representatives of a drainage board had stated that he recognised that throughout New Zealand there were large areajs of poorriand arid of swamp land which settlers could not afford to bring in. In such cases the State should assist, and it wduld be necessary for the Lands Department to ascertain' how much the men who went on such land could pay and- make a reasonable living and: hk>w much would have to be found by the State.