STOPBANKING TROUBLES

Chronicle (Levin), 23 May 1946, Page 3

STOPBANKING TROUBLES

CATCIIMENT BOARD AND RIVEIt \ BOARDS DISAGREE "The Man'awatu Catchment Board should ascertain the true facts of

the position beiore-it begms tc write letters," commbnted ■ •Mr. R, J. Law at a meetihg of the Mana-watu-Oroua River Board, held in Palmerston North recently, when a letter was received from the Manawatu Catchment Board drawing attention to stopbanking undertaken by the Flax Plan Committee at Piaka Bend, Moutoa. The catchment board wanted to know on whose authority the work was being done, and what steps the river board was taking to prevent it. The clerk (Mr. R. H. Spencer) said the matter had been referred to the Flax Plan Committee and a reply had been received from Mr. F. W. Vickerman, stating that no banking has been carried out other than that authorised by the river board prior to the incorporation of the catchment board. Further reference to the agreement made between the river board and the Moutoa settlers in regard to the institution of spillways and the construction of compensating stopbanks, to a master grade, was made by the chairman (Mr. J. Crystall) , who said it had been drawn up by the engineer-in-chief to the Works Department (Mr. W. Newnham) in 1944. It had been adopted by the parties concerned. The work recently done at Piaka Bend was in accordance with tne agreement. No local body, he said, could interfere with anything done unde'r the Public Works Act. It was decided to reply to the catchment board pointing out that neither board had any authority over work carried out by the Public Works Department for the Flax Plan Committee on the Mofitoa Estate.