AVON IMPROVEMENT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17124, 20 April 1921, Page 6

AVON IMPROVEMENT.

DRAINAGE BOARD'S ATTITUDE

The Christclmrch Drainage Board In si night considered further i-ho question of improving the river Avon for navigation ' and scenic purposes. * Tho Town Clerk, Now .nriphton, forwarded copy of the resolutions adopted at the recent Avon rivor improvement- , conference. Mr H. Langford, who represented tho ' Board nt the conference, said it was admitted tho river was capable of groat ; improvement as ono of tho loading insets of the district. Ho objected to the creation of a new board to control the river, and urged tlint t/lie Drainago Board should bo given enlarged po<vor» to enable it to carry out the worn proposed. Ho moved: '"That this Board, while in full sympathy with tho movement for tho improvement of tfc# river Avon generally, cannot endora* tilio proposal for the creation of another ; local body simply for that purpose." The chairman (Mr Walter Hill) t there was 110 doubt the Board wife willing to do all that was asked for If" they had tho power and tho revenue.' } , Mr Langford'a motion was secondtlV by Mr F. Storey. Mr F. Burgoync said Iho part of Mm river that most urgently required \ tcntion was that at present under ti*r . control of tho Harbour Board; - jfc Mr H. Holland said tho rowing ctfljb* had expressed themselves as satisfW ' with the river for rowing purposes.. Hb was opposed to the creation of ft nw body, which would only bo another tax- * ing machine, and which was certainty not justified at tho present time. \ , Tho chairman said the Dninaik Board was purely a utilitarian boqy, and 1 could not do other '.lmn object to > tho proposal. In reply to Mr Walter, he feaid the > Board would not object to applying h snecial rato for tho improvement of Mw ij river. • • • ■ . * Mr Walter said ho was miro Pnrlirj-, ment would not sanction the creation of a new local body in Chriitchnrch.» $ The motion was carried.