WANGANUI RIVER TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2818, 8 July 1916, Page 10

WANGANUI RIVER TRAFFIC

NAVIGATION DIFFICULTIES

MORE MONEY NEEDED

The increasing difficulties in regard to the navigation of the Wungamii ltiver I and the need for a greater expenditure of money 011 river improvements was discussed 111 the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. \V. A. Veitclii brought the matter up by drawing attention to the denudation of bush on the watershed of the Wanganui River. The result of this, he said, was a .seriously diminishing quantity ot water in the river. The "osition now wii.s that the facilities for the use of the river for transport purposes must be either considerably improved or the river must he abandoned altogether as a public highway. .If it were abandoned for navigation purposes, it would be a tremendous public calamity, not only from the tourist point of view, but also from the point of view of the. settlers along the river uanks who, having no roads, were dependent upr.i the river for their eommunici'.ion with the outside world. The position "last year *was very serious, and siti'er.il of 'the boats practically rolled down the river on the shingle—just as if they were 011 ball "bearings. A member: What is 'lie remedy? Mr. Veitch said that :i considerable expenditure of public money vonld be a remedy. He asked that the Minister of Lands should give an undertaking that no more bush would be cut down on the watershed of the Wanganui River. Mr. W. T. Tfennings supported the remarks of Mr. Veitch. He said that tho difficulties of navigation in the upper regions "of the Wanganui River had become so great that the stoppage of "the boats running there had been seriously contemplated. If no steamer ran between Pipiriki and Taumarunui the settlers between those points would lis completely isolated, fie was informed 011 good authority that unless an improvement were made the steamer would probably ceasa to run above Pipiriki. This was a'special reason why the money whicli had been voted in this district should be expended. Mr. W. H. Field said that to ask that 110 more timber should bo cut on the watershed of the Wanganui River was a very .large' order. Jfr. A. If. Hindmarsh: Settlement is more important. Mr. C. H. Poole referred to the scenic beauties of the Wanganui River, and asked that they should lie preserved as much as possible. „ The Right Hon. W F. Massey (Minister of Lands) .said that 110 could not undertake that no more trees would be felled along the banks of the river, as there might be special reason for felling some trees. He, however, agreed generally with the plea for the preservation of the bush. Mr. Veitch repeated that if the river was to be kept open for traffic a considerable expenditure of money beyond that now available would bs necessary. He referred to the advance of J3O that had been made to the River Trust Board in April last. This was totally inadequate, and the members nf the Trust Hoard could not afford to waste their time attending meetings unless more money was provided.' Jfr. Massey: You got more than that last year! Mr. Veitch: Yes, but we did not hare enough. Nothing less than JiSOOO would be sufficient to put the trust in a satis-' factory position. He had heard that the elective niemb9rs of the beard were thinking of resigning 011 account of the present farce. A large quantity of wool eame down the river every year, and it was possible that tho question of constructing locks on. the river would have to bs considered. It was not a matter that could be allowed to wait until the end of the war. Something ' should be done without delay. Mr. Young: Does the Trust Board exercise any rating powers? .Mr. Veitch: Islo. Mr. (J. V. Pearce, 1111 ex-olficio member of the ' board, agreed "that the present funds were totally inadequate, but he did not agree witu Mr. Veitch as to the necessity for locks. When the district was opened up by roads the wool could be brought by road. Mr. Veitch: The roads have not been started yet. Mr. l'earce: Yes, they have. He suggested that a fee of, say, 10s. should be charged to each tounst travelling .011 tlie river.- This would probably bring ill about .fcIOOO a year. The Domain Board was in funds, but it was not allotred to use its money for purposes of the Trust Board, Mr. Massey said that he had given the Rivet; Trust Board a great deal more than sympathy. Mr. Veitch: Jn the past, yes. Mr. .Jlassey said thift the sum voted last year was The vote this year was .£IOOO, but the question of a supplementary vote would be considered. He agreed that something must.be done, and he was inclined to think that the best thing to do would.be to lian'ct the control of the river over to the Public Works Department. Mr. R. W. Smith suggested that legislative provision should be made for transferring the money in the hands of the Domain Fund to the Trust Board. Mr. Veitch said that tho fact that tho Domain Board's money was not available for river improvements was due to an error in ail Order'-in-Council. Mr. Massey saiil that. he would look into the matter and possibly make provision in the Washing-up Bill for transferring the money from'the Domain to the Trust Board.