DRAINAGE COSTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 670, 23 May 1929, Page 6

DRAINAGE COSTS

NON BENEFICIARIES TO PAY? FARMERS OBJECT Should occupiers of an *area under drainage pay toward costs when they do not benefit from the works? The conference had this question before it last evening. That, in the works undertaken by the Government for the benefit of a district (such as swamp drainage), it is inequitable that any individual should be called upon to pay iu excess of the benefit he may derive from the result of such works, and that all ratings for such services should be assessed on actual or arbitrated betterment. was a remit from the Bay of Islands. Mr. A. McL,. Wright said that areas adjacent to drainage schemes were called upon to pay many of the costs. Iu many cases, those paying toward the expenditure were receiving no benefits from the scheme. He believed that people involved in the present Hikurangi scheme would find themselves in such a position. Captain Rushworth explained that the position, irrespective of benefit, was that rates were recoverable from the occupiers of the drainage area. It' was suggested that the occupiers having actual benefit should pay. The remit was carried. ROADS AND INCOME Waikato sent a remit saying that, for the purpose of permanent roads and bridges construction, the motor taxation income, after maintenance, costs on the main highways and secondary roads have been met. should be capitalised, but that a maximum limit of expenditure over any one year should be set down. Mr. Feisst, in moving, said that there was no reason for the non-cap-italisation of income above maintenance costs. It was a good business principle. Captain Rushworth seconded and moved that the question should be referred to the incoming executive for consideration. Captain Colbeck supported this view, saying that there were many sides of the question to be studied. Mr. Henderson thought the Highways Board, which was now on its feet and doing good work, should not be interfered with. The remit was deferred to the executive. CUSTOMS DUTIES The Bay of Islands asked that the members of the conference should pledge themselves to resist to the utmost of their influence the re-elec-tion to Parliament of any member thereof who supports in any way the alteration of the present system of settling Customs duties, point by point, in Parliament, and that the whole weight and influence of the Farmers’ Union should be thrown into a fight to secure the abolition of protective Customs taxation. Captain Rushworth moved the re- < mit, which was carried.