MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 416, 28 July 1908, Page 2

MOUTOA DRAINAGE BOARD.

The members of the above Board have devoted a considerable amount of time and thought to the drainage scheme to be undertaken by them on behalf of the settlers whose lands are affected byfiood waters in the drainage area. Acres upon acres of some ot the most fertile soil in the Dominion are rendered unproductive lor months every year, by reason of the congested overflow. Mr Ward, a skilled civil engineer, has submitted a comprehensive drainage scheme, which the Board intend to carry out. In order to give effect to this scheme, money is required and for this purpose the Board has decided to raise a loan of £6OOO. This sum will not be sufficient to carry out the scheme in its entirety, but will provide sufficient for present needs, and we feel sure that when the settlers realise the proportionate benefits derived they will not hesitate to sanction a further loan if required. The Board has mapped out a special area over which a rate will be struck to provide interest and sinking fund for the loan. The laud so rated will be on the capital value, but in order to make the rate as light as possible, portions of the settlers’ homesteads have been eliminated by the Board from the rating area. As is the case with every local body when raising a loan, certain opposition to the scheme has been raised, and it is well that all such schemes should be properly ventilated, and opposition provides criticism, and criticism undoubtedly leads to ultimate satisfaction. The opponents to the scheme are, of course, a minority of the settlers interested, and their bone of contention is that rating should be on a classification basis, i.e., that each settler should pay in proportion to the benefits he receives. This objection, if upheld, would kill the loan, because the security for same must be based on the capital value. Further, objectors must remember that as the land is improved under the drainage scheme, it rises in value, and the rate increases, on such improved land, and decreases on laud which is not reaping a proportionate value. So in the long run it works out in the same way as if a classification scheme had been primarily adopted. A majority of the ratepayers adopted the plans, showing the drainage connections, etc., and approved of the loan proposals on Friday night last, and we understand that the necessary signatures to the petition authorising the loan, have been obtained. Nothing now remains, but for the settlers to render all the assistance in their power to their elected trustees, who are entitled to their fullest confidence, 1 in order to carry out this scheme, which, directly and indirectly, will benefit each one.