OTAKI RIVER DRAGLINE OPENED

Chronicle (Levin), 4 November 1946, Page 4

OTAKI RIVER DRAGLINE OPENED

MR. SEMPLE ANSWERS CRITICISM 0F PR0JECT

"There has been a lot of ififantile chatter about the ei'ection of this tnaohine. It.has been described in Parliament as a 'Black Elephant,' but people who make statements like these don't know what they are talking- about. They don't know a super dragline from a sausage machine." These words Were spoken by the Minister of Works, Mr. R. Semple, from the platform of the control tower of the Otaki River dragline, during the dpeiiing ceremony on Saturday. A large crowd, estimated at well over a thousand, gathered to »watch the machine's ofRcial deblit. Gay bunting and fiags gave a festive air to the proceedings. Both approaches to the bridge were lined with cars for a considerable distance down the road, and traffic policemen had difficulty in shepherding through traffic over the bridge, Reason for Project "It became obvious to me shortly after I was appointed Minister of Works that something on a gigantic scaie'was necessary to stop river erosidn and save milliohs of tonS of soil from being washed into the ocean," began Mr. Semple. The amount of soil that was being . washed into the rivers was amazing, he said. Millions of cuoic yards of flat ploughable land was being lost each year and it would take a long time to tell of the major difficulties that the Government had got to contend with. The problem was a man made one, brought about by indiscriminate destruetion of hative bush by deliberate burning. Some people had got a silly idea that by burn-_ ing the growth on the hills, good" green grass would shoot up. -It had taken centuries for soil to accumulate and man had destroyed all nature's work, he added. "Destroy the growth, lay barren the hills,. and the wind, rain and snow will do the rest." The practice followed in the past had led to rich hilly couhtry being turned into shingle pits, and this eventually found its way into the rivers and blocked the mouths. "When the rivers started to spread, what have we done?" he queried* "We built up silly little stopbanks. Then we have the floods riding the stopbanks and the only thing left is the far'mers'

mortgages. They stay put. "What we aim to do ho\v is to clear out the river beds so as to combat the flood waters, otherwise it is only a matter of time before; ffiousands of more acres are lost to us." Mr. Semple qqoted Balclutha as an example. Here he said, 150,000 acres of the richest land in New Zealand was under Water and the farmers' produce lost. It was the same in many other districts. Mr. Semple then turned to attack those who had condemned the installation of the dfaglines. "They don't know what they are talking about. They know nothing about Ihe situation. I know what I'm talking about, and I'm going to keep on talking even though they call me names. I know they call me names, but I'd feel lonely if they didn't. We don't want to tinker with the cause and tinker with the effect. We want to understand the cause and apply the remedy. These machines are wanted in New Zealand. They are* wanted badly." Government Not Fooled "That will be the day," said Mr. ^emple when ;.commenting that ijt; had 'been- - said that tlie States had 'put it across -us' when ;he draglines were bought. It lrad been claimed that they had not been a success in the United States. "Our experts were sent over to America to make a first 'hand study of these machines in operation. Their capabilities have been carefully studied." The troyble was, he continued, there were "too many snivellerb in this country. Any attempt at a scientific enterprise led to sniveliing and the telling of bedtime itories." It had been truthfullv iaid that a nation without visiori perished. This country needed the ikilful application of a driving force. Some people were snivelling about the cost of the machines. Surely, he said. the machines were worth tlieir price if they were instrumental in saving millions of tons of earth that would otherwise

be washed into the sea. "We are '"he trustees of this country for the next generation. We must be more ■ha.n just custodians. We must •;ave the country for those who lorne after us.." it was wrong to be selfish. We Cotvld not take any thing with" us to the grave. Our; fundamental duty was to protect the interests of those who would follow us. The Same With Bullclozers It had been exactly the same when he had brought the bulldozers into NeW Zealand, said Mr. Semple. He had received the same criticism then." "Would. anyone say any thing about the bulldozers how? They have given me the name of 'Buildozer Bob.' " These machines l^iad proved their value iil war and in peace. The War Offtce had asked for his machines to be sent to the front to help chase Roihmel from Egypt. They had been working in- the Pacific zone before the Americans had been able to get their own machines thefe. He had been aqcused of receivihg a backhander from the companies which

Sold these machines. He was accused of being a shareholder, but he had no time for. those who- talked Of public llien like that. He had iil fact never owned a share in his life, and said he had no intentipn of ever doing so. People who talked like that were, in . his opinibn, sulfeuing 'from poisoned minSs. The plahs he had in mind for proj ects such as the one at Otaki were away beyond the conception "of such narrow rninded sbapegoats. Thefe were rhree machines similar to the Otaki River one-in New Zealand and there was plenty of work for them to do. The Americans had offered to send trained men with the machines, but he hadbeen" confident that men could be found and triained to operate thetn iil New Zealand. "We can breed, redr and train men equal to any in the world," he added. He congratulated all those responsible for the assembling of the machine, commenting that not on® of them had ever seen equipment of that nature in their lives before. He later introdueed them individually to the audience. Reascns for Delay There had been much criticism of the delay in getting the equipment operating, ,„ut this was hot the fault of the New Zealand Government. The electrical equipment had had to be rewired to siiit conditions here, and later, strikes and ^.hipping difficulties had added to this delay. He did not think it fair that the Government here should be blamed for conditions existing in America. The plant was operated by diesel engines so as to avoid robbing local power, and also to enable the equipment to operate in country not supplied with power; lines. Mr. Semple thanked the people for turning out in such large numbers to see the machine for themselves. To- let the people see thp machine in operation was "the only way to jam the lie down the throats of the scandal mongers," he said. "I don't mind them calling me names as long as my conscience is clear. The more names I am called the more I feel that I'm getting on with the job and really doing something." Mr. Semple said he deplored the attacks that were being made on his engineers. These men* were trail blazers, he said.' They were helping to lay the foundations of this country and therefore they deserved more than "powardly triticism." Other Speakers New Zealand, being a young country, was faced with many geographical probiems, said the Deputy-Commissioner of Works, Mr. J. Beek. River erosion was one of the probiems which faced Mr. Semple when he took over the portfolio of Minister of Works. He had tackled the problem immediately, realising the danger ahead. He had called his engineers together on many occasions in order to discuss ways and means of combating the problem. Engineers had been sent to Canada and America to study the methods being used there and this equipment had been the result of that mission. The main feature of the equipment was its capability of Teaching out over 1000 feet, thus preventing the possibility of danger from flood waters. Equipment of other types used in rivers in the past had been swept out to sea by floods and thousands of pounds had rhus been lost . The equipment could clear an enormous yardage at a low cost, and could also be used to clear willows from the centre of rivers. The Otaki River project was only one of many. Other rivers such- as ■the", Clutha were ; badly in rteed'. of attentioii. frhg Control and tail towers of tlie 'machine were both capable of self *prbpulsion. " There were no guy-wires necessary. Visual signals would be used to communicate with the other bank, though it was hoped that "walkietalkies" would be introduced, as in America. The main eable was one and a-half inches in diameter and the bucket could be either drawn across the bed of the river, 01* dipped and carried threugh the air. The machine would work downstream, gradually widening the channel till it reached the sea, when it would cross over to the other bank and work back. Taking as a basis the figures supplied by the United States' authorities, it was estimated, said Mr. Beck, that the project .would involve only half the cost of previous work of the same nature, where other machinery had been used. It was expected that the machinery

would clear over 1,000,000 cubie yards a year. Other speakers were the engineer in chief, Mr. F. Langbein, who is also a member of the National Soil Conservation Council, the Mayor of Otaki, Mr. C. F. Atmore, the chairman of the Manawatu Catchment Board, Mr. T. Heatley, and the chairman of the Horowhenua Coiinty Council, Mr. G. A. Monk. All welcomed Mr. Semple "and expressed gratifieation that the Otaki River project would soon be under way. The official Labour candidate for the Otaki electorate, Mr. J. J. Thorh, was also present, representing Mr. L. G. Lowry, M.P., who was unable to be present. Watched by the large crowd, Mr. Semple then moved into the cab of the control tower and by pressihg a switch, set the madhinery in motion. Operated by the plant overseer, Mr. J. Collard,- the giant bucket was swung across the river, lowered into the water, ahd the first load of shihgle deposited on the northern bank.