Lack Of Help In Flood

Chronicle (Levin), 19 June 1948, Page 3

Lack Of Help In Flood

Many farmers living m close proximity to the Manawatu River did -not lift a finger to help others in . their fight to keep the river within its channel dunng . tne recent floods, said Mr. R. J-. Law at a meeting of the Manawatu-Oroua River Board at Palmerston North on WedneSday. In facr, he .said, one farmer even went so f ar as to refus.e to giv'e sacks.to men working on. the stopbanks near. his property.. The difficulty in his subdivision ' (Koputaroa) was .that settlers lived Tfurther away from the river than in most areas, and in some cases their homes were on terraces, and were consequently ncft affected by. floods. Mr. S. M. Newth. said that the farmers in the Moutoa sub-division were out working hard on the stopbanks, as most of their homes were situated close to the river. The question was raised when the engineer, Mr. H. R. Farquhar, reported that he had to employ Mr. R. R. Lind and three of his men to patrol the banks in the Te Matai area during this year's floods. Mr. Law adde-d that the Shannon Bridge would have been swept away by the flood if ' assistance from Mr. Lind had not been obtained.. He 'said that debris had piled up against the bridge to an alarming degree. Help was §ought from Mr'. Lind and, with his knowledge and under his direction, the bridge was saved.