DRAIN AND RIVER WORK

Chronicle (Levin), 11 February 1948, Page 4

DRAIN AND RIVER WORK

Maintenance Grant Allowed Local Bodies . Conditions for the grantihg of maintehance subsidies for work by loeaf authorities in drains and rivers , were contained in a circular •etter from the Manawatu Catchment Roard at a meeting, of the Horowhenua County • Council , today.- The subsidy would be up to £1 for £1 and it was not intended to relieve local authorities of their financial obligations but to bring about a higher standard of maintenance than existed at present.' To enable applieations for ' subsidies to be forwarded to. the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, the board asked the council to advise the drains or rivers" on. which it wished to ask for a sub- k si'dy, the order of priority -of . the works and any reasons why they •shquld receive assistance. The equneil was not affected to any great extent; commented the chairman, Mr. A. M. Colquhoun, but the Pahiko Drain was one case Which could be included. He added that applieations had to be made by March 31. '

Cr. R. W. Jenkins asked whether the Waimea Stream, . which was subject to'flooding, could be included. To carry out any worthwhile work there was beyond manpower, he said. It would have to be- done by mechanical equipment. Cr. W. Taylor was of the opinion that in this matter the council needed the advice or an engineer. Before the subsidy was passed over the Catchment Bpard engineer should inspect some ' of " the likely works and indicate if they were suitable to seek a subsidy on. The clerk, Mr. F. H. Hudson, explained that the subsidy was not intended for new work. It applied only to maintenance work which a local body was at present carrying out, and which could be brought up to a higher standard if additional monetary assistance was available. Cr. J. D. Aitchison told the meeting that any work put forward would be inspected by the Catchment Board's .engineer and would then go to the Public Works Department for approval. . On the suggestion of Cr. E. R. Winkler, the matter was referred to the works committee to go into' and bring down recommendations.