ABOLISH AREAS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3277, 18 June 1943, Page 5

ABOLISH AREAS

PLAINS DRAINAGE BOARD NOTICE OF MOTION GIVEN PROPOSAL BY MR C. W. SCHULTZ A proposal to abolish the present system of four sub-divisions as at present operated by the Hauraki United Drainage Board was introduced by Mr C. W. Schultz at Thursday’s meeting of the board when he gave notice of motion that at the next meeting of the board he would move that in view of the recommendation of Mr E. Taylor, engineer of the Lands Department, Kerepeehi, acting as arbitrator between the Central North and Central South areas regarding the position of the connecting outlet drains that it is desirable that the board abolish all its sub-divisions and revert to one drainage area, thus strengthening the future position of the board as to carrying out of major work such as the erection and improvement of stopbanks and also to strengthen and stabilise the board’s financial position to meet all future urgent works that may become necessary. Mr Schultz said that it would be necessary to erect a dredge-built stopbank on the foreshore and this was beyond the finances of any one area. Step In Right Direction The chairman, Mr C. K. Fox, said that he thought Mr Schultz was moving in the right direction. The stopbank on the foreshore was definitely •a matter for the whole area. The Government also did not like the question of areas, considering them very much out-of-date and tending to retard progress. Mr Taylor wrote to the board as under: — “Confirming the arrangement made at our recent meeting when the division of maintenance costs between the Central North and Central South sub-divisions was discussed with the clerk, the chairman and the three members, I have to report as follows: —

“The * drains crossing the boundary between the two. sub-divisions are part of a single drainage system or unit and an exact division of the maintenance costs between these two subdivisions is not possible because of the many uncertain factors involved. “In my opinion the maintenance of the drains on each side of the subdivision boundary is the joint responsibility of the two ridings and as a means of achieving financial equity I suggest that your board should consider the adoption of one of the following suggestions:— “1. Amalgamate the Central North and Central South sub-divisions. “2. Strike the same rate in both sub-divisions and pool the expenditure.

“If I can be of any further assistance to your bogrd in this matter I will be pleased to do so.”