HABIT DIES HARD

Chronicle (Levin), 17 February 1947, Page 3

HABIT DIES HARD

ABOLITION OF RIVER BOARD The Manawatu Catchment Board met on Tuesday in conference with aeveral members of the ManawatuOroua River Board with the object of trying to arrive at a definite date for the River Board to go out of existence. Mr. W. McKay was elected to the chair. Stating the River Board's ease, Mr. J. Crystall, Senr.. chairman of that board, said that the ratepayers should have the last say. A petition froni River Board ratepayers had asked for a referendum and further, before the Catchment Board took over, there should be a classification of the whole district to enable the ratepayers to know what rates would be struck. He maintained that the River Board could still co-operate with the Catchment Board and fulfill a useful purpose. The position seemed to be that the Catchment Board, with no money, wanted to take over. the River Board and its operations. Mr. H. Jensen, a Catchment Board member, thought the dissolution of the River Board was very essential, so that all works could be brought under one control. Mr. J. T. J. Heatley said there was a resolution of the books abolishing the River Board, so that any talk on giving that body a further lease of life was out of order. Mr. McKay said the real purpose of the conference was to decide a date for the River Board to go out. Mr. J. D. Aitchison: And go out happily. Mr. Heatley said it was necessary for the Catchment Board to get control of the river as quickly as possible to avoid a possible disaster. Mr. McKay stated that the position would improve under the j'urisdiction of the Catchment Board. A classification of the whole of the catchment area would be a very long job. The Catchment Board had an engineering staff well able to carry on the River Board's, maintenance work. It also had a staff of workers who could be rushed to any spot on the river in the event of an emergency. Mr. S. Barber said that the ratepayers were wanting to know if the Catchment Board could give the same service as the River Board. Nobody wanted to see a! blank. Mr. Aitchison: I feel sure we could give the service. Mr. P. G. Evans, engineer, said the Catchment Board also had plant which would be used. Mr. McKay suggested November next as a suitable date for the demise of the River Board. . There would be local body elections in that month. Mr. Crystall said he would like a full meeting of the River Board to discuss the situation. The Soil Conservation Council had given | him to b'elieve that a suitable date | would be March 31, 1948.