OTAKI BOROUGH'S POSITION.

Shannon News, 25 November 1927, Page 3

OTAKI BOROUGH'S POSITION.

government commission to • ‘ - :\ MAKE ENQUIRY. \* ■, —— the native rates problem. The Otaki Borough Council has ‘'•accepted-an offer by the Government to set up a Commission to enquire into the financial position of the Borough. The non-payment of \ native rates, the exclusion of large areas from the Borough by two Commissions, the demand of the ‘ Health Department that the sewer- . age scheme should be completed, the prospect of reduced valuations next year are four factors tbat have combined to make the municipal outlook a very anxious one* At a meeting of the Otaki Borough Council .on Monday there were present: His Worship the. Mayor (Mr. • -Brandon), Crs. -W. A Sm,rl,, T. O'Rourke, E. b. Morse, J. McGill, l±. Cockrell, and E. J. FOURTEEN. PER CENT. INCREASE IN RATES. . - . The following letters were received I from the Borough Solicitor (Mr L. ±. phoned to me during the meeting on Monday afternoon to go over-and participate in the deliberations concerning the drainage' proposals, but untortunately I was out of the office at the time and,the message did not reach .me until the meeting'had terminated. 1 cannot-help thinking that it is an extremely ill-advised step for the Council ~ at the present time even to consider further expenditure in drainage matters in view of the extremely unsatisfactory financial position. I 1 would like to refer to" the following points:—(l) toe • present position of the Nativfe rates -alone is surely sufficient grounds for refusing to consider proposals for further drainage expenditure. Of the Native rates of £BOO secured by the Liens, some-thine-.over £7OO is still owing, andm - addition there are (a) 1926-27 arrears of £7lB, (b) current Native rates or £9-33 of which' only £24 8s has been paid, , and there is every ...prospect judging from, the past experiences of the Natives that at least £9OO of the .eur^ ‘ rent ycai-’s Native rates will be owing at the end of the financial year. The total rate struck for the present year over the whole of the Borough is £634.), and the Native rate is slightly more than one-seventh of this total. Ail these arrears will require to be found next year, so ithat the rates will require to be increased by 14 per cent over those struck for the current year. The serious aspect of the Native rates is that the Council is faced with a similar increase every year, until relief is granted by tbe Native Minister. (2) The effect of the re-valuation of the Borough lands which will take effect from the 31st March, 1928, is too uncertain ,;to justify the Council formulating any financial scheme at the present time. It is common knowledge that the areas of say ,two acres (2 , acres) and more, are to be very substantially reduced in value, and that itha town, sections are to be increased. As the broad acres contribute the greater proportion ,of the rates this readjustment will result in a very substantial increase in rates .on the town A sections, and possibly residential sections, if the present revenue is to be maintained. The Ratepayers are cor: tainly entitled to have some idea of what the proposed expenditure on drainage will cost them ip the way ol increased rates, but.it is absolutely impossible at the present time to give \ them any indication whatsoever on this point. (3) The fact that there arc: two petitions for further exclusion from the Borough is in itself sufficient grounds for holding over the consideration oi any further expenditure until the fate of these petitions is known. (4) As far as Mr. Barnes is concerned, I do not know anything about his capacity as an engineer. I regret having written at such length, but 1 am deeply interested in the welfare - of the Borough and am accordingly desirous of expressing in the' clearest possible terms my opinion that all considerations of drainage matters should be held over until the many difficulties ■ mentioned above have been overcome. —Yours faithfully, C. F. ATMORL Borough Solicitor.'" OFFER OF GENERAL ENQUIRY. “Further ,to my letter of date, I have been in communication with the Internal Affairs Office foi some time passed, in connection witi the petitions pending and other matters ' with a view to fully informing the Be partment of the many difficulties with which the Borough is faced, - and to ob- ( taining for the future the assistance' and co-operation of the Minister ami his Department. I am happy to advise the Council that, I have received a letter from the Undersecretary by this morning's mail wherein the Minister acknowledges the very unsatisfactory position of the Borough affairs and is prepared to recommend the appointment of a Commission to go most exhaustively into all the matters which have been brought before the Government, and to make a report which will, with some degree of permanency enable the various matters in dispute to be settled. This is an excellent proposal and is obviously what is wanted, and I - shall ibe glad if you will please Tefer this letter to the Council and advise ' me whether the proposal is acceptable. I assume, that if the Council accepts this proposal that the resolution instructing Mr. Barnes to proceed with the preliminary work will be rescinded and that he will ibe written to accordingly. This is<*a necessary step to save the Council from incurring liability to Mr. Barnes for work which he may intend doing immediately. The Minisister's attitude with regards to the \ Council's petition for re-inclusion in the Borough all the properties excluded,

is Jess satisfactory. The Minister refuses to recommend another Commission to "be set up on the grounds (a) ' that the. costs of the last Commission has not yet'been paid by the Council (ib) that the Council.has not proceed-

ed with the special legislation providing for re-valuation of farm lands not suitable for building purposes (c) that no adequate reasons haye been given why the position is any different from that disclosed by the last Commission. There does not seem any reason why further consideration of this matter should not be held over and discussed before the proposed special commission. I can probably arrange with the Minister that he will not deal further with the private petitions presented to him until after the proposed special commission has sat and made a report. Will you please bring this letter and that of yesterday's date before the meetings of both the Works Committee and the Finance Committee to-night.— Yours faithfully, 0. F. ATMORE, Borough Solicitor. ” MOTION TO HOLD UP SEWERAGE Cr. Ryder stated that he was absent, from the'meeting, (but he now had pleasure in moving that the motion relative to drainage be’ rescinded. He added that the Council should not under any circumstances think of going on with drainage; it would be simply monstrous to proceed further. Cr. [O' ’ißourke said that he would second the motion foT the purpose of debate. •

Cr. Cockrell stated! -that' he would like to see the Council hold its hand on account of the . Commission which was to be set up. MAYOR ADVOCATES SEWERAGE. The Mayor pointed out that a resolution had been passed agreeing to proceed with the drainage in conformity with the desire of the Health Department. , Nothing could be. done without the consent of that body. The Commission would first see the position of the borough, while it would be pointed out that the Council could not carry oh successfully unless it got Maori rates. The Council at the same time would point out that it objected to commissions upsetting the borough boundaries which made it difficult for the Council, to carry on. He objected to any move to prevent the carrying on of the drainage and pointed out that Mr. Barnes was willing to submit plans and specifications subject to the approval of the Health Department, arid if it was shown /that the Council could not sueces'sfuliy carry on the scheme it would be stopped. -In the: meantime there should be n.o delay. ' He:had every respect for Mr. Atmore, but still be understood that he has not* been appointed advisor to the Council. The Mayor further stated that Mr. Barnes was willing to supply bondsmen, if it was desired. The letter was quite Candid, and the Council was under no eoimmijtnie'nit (t)o IMfr. ißarnes till the plans and specifications were approved, of by the Health Department. If the Health Department’s engineer approved of plans |the Council would be relieved of all responsibility. THE RATEPAYERS PAY. Cr. Ryder: Who has to pay the fates? . The Mayor: The ratepayers! Cr. Ryder: Just sb! Our solicitor is correct 1 in pointing out the inadvisability of going on with the matter. It was the Council who had to pay the piper, not the Health Department, If the Council failed it would be in the mud, and goodness knows they were already in the mud deep enough. i Cr. McGill: If the commission sat what would be the result?, The Mayor: We have pointed out our inability to collect Native rate's,' and we could point out that the Government was cutting out further areas from the , borough, leaving too big a burden on the ratepayers left behind. It was. in consequence of complaints that the Government offered to set pp a commissicin. Cr. Morse thought in view of the commission to investigate the borough’s position he thought they might hold over the question of drainage. It was the desire of all Councillors to see finality but in view of the fad that the Commission may sit lie thought Mr. Barnes' hands might be stayed in the meantime so as to prevent him from going to expense. He, personally, did not wish to see Mr. Barnes'out of pocket. If Cr. Ryder would modify his motion it would meet with his approval..

ROADS; BEFORE SEWERS. Cr. Ryder considered that better roads were wanted in preference to drainage. The roads, ho considered, were deplorable, and under the present system it was impossible to improve them.

The Mayor said no one desired to see better roads than he himself, bqt he thought the Council’s first consideration should be for the health of the women and children, living in Otaki. People declined to come and reside here on account ■of no drainage.

COMPARISON WITH LEVIN. Cr. Ryder pointed out that people went to Levin to reside despite the fact that it had no drainage. The Mayor: Why is the Health Department so insistent on the matter? Cr. Ryder: I also would like to know! Why does not the Department go and force Levin to do drainage? Cr. McGill considered by carrying out the scheme very little more money would be required. He would favour that little extra being spent and drainage completed. It was impossible, he understood, to transfer the sewerage money for better roads. At the present time the Council was losing 3 per cent on their money. LET LEVIN FOLLOW. The Mayor pointed out that 90 p.er cent of those on the roll voted for drainage', and he felt the Council therefore had-a moral obligation to see the drainage completed. Till sewerage was available Otaki would not progress. Levin had been held up as ah example, but .why should the Council follow Levin —let Levin follow Otaki.

Cr. Ryder again pointed out that the roads were a disgrace and should be given preference to sewerage, and he firmly believed that if a vote of . the ratepayers was taken road improvement would be favoured. Only a few .desired the sewerage. Where tanks were necessary the people should be made put them in. Cx. Smith said they wanted drainage,

but he was afraid that if put'it in band it would spoil the chance of getting a road improvement loan. Drainage 0 was needed, but delay wbuld do no harm, while he thought the Commission might suggest something helpful to the Council. CONDITION OF ROADS.

The Mayor said much had been said of the roads, but after all he considered they " compared favourably with roads elsewhere. It was the main County road that all the cry was made about, and this, he maintained, should not be a burden on the Council. Since the grader had beo-i at work on the streets there were but few complaints, He would not favour a single penny being spent on. the main road —ithat was a matter for the Highways Board. ' Cr. O’Rourke agreed, and suggested that nothing be done to that Toad. He had.previously acted in the interests of the Council, over road matters but his efforts had not been appreciated bv some Councillors. When the commission sat matters relative to the road might be explained. He did not think it right that some should have to carry the burden of others in borough boundary -matters, and pointed out that a smaller number would have to carry a heavier burden. They were drifting still further to meet the Native rates!

In answer to Cr. Morse the Mayor said that the Council had asked for a commission twelve months ago. The motion, that no action be taken relative to drainage till after the commission sat, was carried. The Mayor voted against, and asked that his vote be recorded. He said that he was sorry to think that there was to be further delay. Cr. O’Rourke, who did not vote, considered that the matter would not be held up for long. Money, ho maintained could not be left long underground. COMMISSION ACCEPTED.

Cr. Cockrell movod that the offer of the Internal Affairs Department to set up a commission be accepted, and that a request be made, that it sit as 'soon as. possible.—-Seconded by Cr. Ryder, and carried.