NO BENEFIT FROM WVA SAY REPRESENTATIVES OF DISTRICT LOCAL BODIES

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 58, 27 July 1965, Page 5

NO BENEFIT FROM WVA SAY REPRESENTATIVES OF DISTRICT LOCAL BODIES

Local bodies had received no benefits from the activities of the Waikato Valley Authority since they had contributed to its administration, delegates to a meeting of the Rotorua, Taupo and Taumarunui County Councils and the Taupo Borough Council complained on Friday.

A motion adopted unanimously by the combined meeting called for a re-exam-ination of administrative contributions over the whole W.V.A. area. 1 Further it was asked that all local authorities be placed on a rating basis. The meeting did not agree to a division, for administrative purposes, of soil conservation from rivers control. A secona motion adopted was that the authority be requested to review the responsibilities of the Lands and Survey Department and the New Zealand Electricity Department in evaluating their fair share of a sound method of raising finance to ensure proper maintenance of the Waikato River dams. Mr M. J. Black (Taupo County) pointed out that much of the erosion being experienced in the Taupo County was on Crown development lands for which full rates were not being paid. The Rotorua County engineer, Mr R. Martin, said that if the W.V.A. had to do the job, then the administration costs should be fairly apportioned on a pro rata basis, and work done in return. The proposed increases in contributions were approved by Mr W. N. McCormack, Rotorua County clerk, who suggested the W.V.A. was afraid that someone was going to "rock the boat" thereby upsetting allocations in the lower Waikato.

If satisfaction could not be received, he suggested the matter should go back to Parliament for reassessment of the whole area. Conservation could not be divorced from rivers control, he added. It was suggested by Mr R. B. Moorhouse (Taupo County) that the various authorities should seek a meeting with the W.V.A. to discuss future co-operation as soon as possible. Representatives will report back to their local bodies.