DRAINING WAIKATO

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 493, 24 October 1928, Page 18

DRAINING WAIKATO

WOULD AMALGAMATION SOLVE PROBLEMS? PRESENT SYSTEM CONDEMNED (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Tuesday. Of vast importance to hundreds of settlers in the Waikato is the problem of drainage. The operations of many drainage and river boards within 30 miles’ radius of Hamilton for years seems to be culminating in one objective—i amalgamation. Already the preliminary step to this end has been taken | when a conference of varied interests ; —including the boards concerned—- ! was held here some weeks ago. Since ! then, at several board and ratepayers’ j meetings, amalgamation has been ; mooted, and the opinion that the scheme will result in mutual benefits was expressed. General dissatisfaction with the system of rating was evident at a large meeting last week of Orini ratepayers, whose properties bound the Mangawara, a tributary of the Waikato. Here, a good example of wastage and damage due to the operations of different boards on the same stream is given. Districts in the upper reaches of the river are responsible for increasing the flooding in the lower areas, yet are freed from liability. The clearing of these streams of snags, weeds, willows, and silt is an expensive matter, and has to be accomplished by expensive machinery. Drainage boards find difficulties in raising loans for the purchase of additional machinery and labour owing to the objections of many of the ratepayers to a levy on them, which should be borne in part by ratepayers of other boards operating on the same stream. Some of the settlers asked to vote for a loan receive no personal benefit whatever, yet a few of them support loan proposals in a spirit of philanthrophy, and vote for them for the benefit of the majority. Such cases, however, are rare. Amalgamation is regarded as the only solution to the multifarious problems affecting the swamp drainage of the Waikato. Indication that the boards are far from satisfied with the rating systems they are in some cases obliged to enforce on settlers was given at a meeting of the # Hillside Drainage Board ratepayers’ last night, when a .resolution was carried unanimously that the Government be asked, when revising the Land Drainage Act, to make provision for the district to decide itself whether it can rate on capital values, unimproved values, or on the acreage basis. A motion expressing dissatisfaction with the rating system was also passed. As drainage is of vital importance to every farmer whose land either bounds or includes a stream, the interest in forthcoming negotiations will be very keen. The Waikato County Council has already approved of the principle of amalgamation, and intimated that it is willing, with other local bodies, to assist in the project.