MANAWATU RIVER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 261, 31 July 1919, Page 6

MANAWATU RIVER

\ p PROPOSAL TO CUT A CANAL TO PALMERSTON NORTH.

By Telegraph—Speolal Correspondent. Palmerston North, July 30. At tho sub-provincial conference of tho Farmers' Union held at Levin, the following remit was introduced by the Tiakitahuna branch: "That in view of the fact that a big.scheme for banking the southern side of the Manawatu Jiiver from Linton to Shannon is under consideration, this branch considers that a scheme should bo formulated either to straighten the river or cut a channel from near Longburn to Foxton. This would eliminate the necessity and expense of banking both sides of the river, as settlers on the northern side will certainly erect a bank to counteract / the effect of the schemo now in progre-ss. "-It is the opinion of this branch that the banking of the river will ne6essarily raise the bed and so force upon settlers the continuous oxpensc of enlarging both banks year after year." l. Mr. Neilson (Tiakitahuna) said that if 'the flaxmillers concerned , banked the river pn'the Shannon-Levin side as was proposed, it would affect property owners on the other side, and his branch therefore thought that some action should be taken. Mr. F. J/ Ryder (Otaki) said that the only method of keeping the river in its bed was by dredging. If they required a canal the site should be planted so as to keep tho banks firm. Mr. J. A. M'Leavey (Palmerston North) said that tho local bodies should bo approached, as the matter was one that concerned them. _ Mr. M'Donald (Te Horo) said it would be quite 'feasible to construct a canal from Foxton to Palmerston. Mr. Ryder said that if a canal were constructed tho }[anawatu district would become the most productive and .closely settled in the Dominion. Mr. J. J. Lynch (Ashhurst) said ho would like to see the scheme extended . as far as the gorge I The remit was adopted, and tho conference recommended that before. ' any steps are taken a meeting of tho whole of the settlers interested and the local bodies in the district should bo called to consider tho scheme, and tho Government bo requested to furnish an expert report 'on t'he matter."