Waikato River Works.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 357, 5 March 1918, Page 1

Waikato River Works.

| To the Editor"] Sir—l notice in your last issue a paragraph dealing with this work, and forecasting contemplated action by both sides. It Beems a great pity that an important work like this should be hampered because of some threatened slight local injury. Please note that the finding of the Royal Commission put on record that no injury had been done to the Otaua or Aka Aka lands. If damage is done to their navigation, there are other means of dealing with it than stopping an important general public work, and in this case it would be the duty of the River Board to help remedy the trouble. It is a great pity the Waikato River Board consented to the exclusion of the Otaua and Aka lands, and when they did release them that they did not get an agreement in writing from them not to interfere in the River Board's work. The Otaua and Aka Aka Boards were "wily" enough to have the agreement releasing their area from ttie rating district reduced to writing by Mr Hislop—at that time Under Secretary for Lands. Although there was a verbal 'arrangement between the two parties that if the River Board released the Otaua and Aka Aka lands from their rating area that the Otaua and Aka ratepayers would not oppose the Board's policy but would assist them the Chairman of the River Board allowed himself to be out-manoeuvr-ed. The Otaua and Aka Aka lands were released under a signed agreement and the Board gave up the substance and got the shadow in the shape of no end of trouble and opposition. It is about time this navigation and drainage question was handled in a much more businesslike manner. On March 28th, 1914, a letter was received by the River Board from the Lands Department which read thus"l note Messrs Kennedy and Thompson have had a private conference, and am now aware that Mr Thompson handed to Mr Kennedy certain plans of surveys lately made. No doubt the points of agreement arrived at between these gentlemen weie restricted to that portion of river lying between the Heads and Kaitangata. As I have already pointed out to your Board this portion of the proposed works has never been in question, and it only depends upon the amount of mon=»y your Board is prepared to spend in obtaining the necessary deepening.'' About a week previous to this letter being received Mr Kennedy, Mr Thompson and Mr Hamer spent a day conferring and examining plans etc. (vide Mr Kennedy's report dated 18/3/14). If the Lands Department and Mr Thompson made a bad mistake and the ratepayers were misled into voting for the loan proposal then I think it the duty of the Government to indemnify the ratepayers and take the blame. It' they are not prepared to do this, then I think the ratepayers are entitled to an enquiry after giving due oppoitunity to both sides to bring forward all evidence possible. What all intelligent ratepayers want is to see the work prosecuted with vigour if it is feasible, and if it is impracticable then squash the proposal —t am, etc. * RATEPAYER