KAITAIA DRAINAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 310, 22 March 1928, Page 14

KAITAIA DRAINAGE

MINISTER REPLIES The recent representations, of ratepayers of the Ivaitaia drainage area to the Minister of Lands, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, have been replied to at length by the Minister. He states that the dissatisfaction can be analysed under the following headings:— (1) Levying of rates before the completiono f works; (2) the extent to which the drainage benefited the area; lack of notice of levying rates; (4) amount of the rate; (5) classification of area. The Minister says he had no knowledge of any promise that the levying of rates would be deferred. The department had refrained from levying the rates in order to give settlers an opportunity of improving their properties, and this object had bsen achieved. The department had also refrained from levying rates for the annual maintenance of drains, and the amount so spent had been, added to the capital cost of the works. It was realised, adds Mr. McLeod, that assistance was necessary to certain classes of ratepayers who could not be expected to meet the full rates at present. Ratepayers, whose properties are classified as “A” and “B” had been subsidised to the extent of £4.258. Much has been said in regard to the apparent discrepancy between the rates demanded and the classification decided upon by arbitrators. It was evident that the settlers had arrived at hurried conclusions regarding this discrepancy and had been only too willing to find the Government guilty of sharp practice, when, in reality, every assistance had been extended to ratepayers. Had no subsidies been provided the rates would have been exactly in accordance with the ratios fixed by the arbitrators. It is considered that with the reduction in the capital charge against the area as a •whole to £IIO.OOO, and with the liberal subsidies, the majority of the ratepayers should be able to meet their obligations to the Crown.