PROTECTING TAIERI

Evening Star, Issue 19784, 7 February 1928, Page 11

PROTECTING TAIERI

REPLY TO RIVER TRUST PRIME MINISTER TO BE APPROACHED At yesterday’s meeting of the Taieri River Trust the need for extension of the present protection scheme in course of erection and an additional scheme for drainage again came up for discussion. At the previous meeting the trust discussed extensions of the river protection scheme, involving an increased cost of £23,760, and a proposal to undertake drainage works at an estimated cost of £12,558, and it was decided to agree to the carrying out of the new works on condition that the cost of the present works was limited to the amount stated in the revised estimate. Yesterday the reply of Mr J. R. Marks, district engineer of the Public Works Department, to the trust’s resolution was read as follows : “ In reply to your memo of 7th ult., wherein you advise of the trust’s approval of the proposed drainage scheme, and that it is willing to pay half the cost of same, I have to advise that the reservation which the trust makes is contrary to statutory provision made in the Finance Act, 1927, whereby it becomes mandatory that half the additional cost of the works regarded as part of the general .scheme be borne by the trust. 1 have to point out, therefore, that it is not within the trust’s power to make any resolution limiting its contribution to the works under the scheme, and that the Inclusion of such a reservation nullifies tho, trust’s resolution in regard to tho drainage scheme. “ However, 1 understand that tho trust, as u body, is satisfied that the proposed internal drainage scheme is a most essential part of the improvement works on the Taieri Plain. If this is so the department is willing to proceed with it, but otherwise, if the trust does not consider that to be so, it will not be gone on with. “ I would be glad if you would again put this matter before the trust tor a decision. If a resolution is passed by the trust stating that it considers the proposed drainage scheme a desirable and essential part of the Taieri Plain flood protection scheme, that the trust wishes tho Public Works Department to proceed with the work, and that the trust agrees to find half the cost, it will he proceeded with. No poll of ratepayers will be necessary. “ As previously advised, the Huston Dragline is a suitable machine, but its retention in the district without work cannot be long delayed. Also, ir the work is to bo done it is most essential that as much as possible be done before tho winter.” Mr Johnson put forward the following petition;—

We, the undersigned ratepayers, do petition tho trust to approve of and speed on the internal drain lor main drainage to tho main pumping station, pub before it by the Public Works engineer. This was signed by thirty-two ratepavers. , , , , Mr Kcmpshell laid on the tabic a petition against the scheme, hid) read as follows :

Wo, the undersigned payers of rates to the Taieri Hiver iiust, hereby beg to express our astonishmerit to learn of the proposed extensive and costly internal dram, and their disappointment at the prospect of their being eailcd on to provide further funds for the execution thereof; and further beg respectfully to protest emphatically against the commencement of the work. This petition was signed by sixty four ratepayers. Mr Kempshell moved: — Ir.at the Public Works engineer be-advised that the whole matter was to be held over by the mist, pending the visit of the Prime Minister to Dunedin, when a deputation from the trust would anproach him.” ... He added that Mr Conies should be asked cither to give the farmers adequate assistance to complete the scheme and (to use the words of the late Mr Massey) “make the laien Plains worth living on, or to enable the farmers to got rid of tbeir hola mgs. s , .. At this juncture a deputation consisting of Messrs Cuttance and M Kenzie appeared before the trust and protested against the scheme, It was too expensive, they said, and would have the effect of making the land too expensive. They contended that a vote should he taken among the ratepayers The motion was carried. It was further decided, on a motion moved bv Mr Johnson and seconded by Mr Moore, that the trust members ns a body should act as the deputation. The matter was discussed at some length, the varying opinions of members being supported by signed petitions from ratepayers. It was decided finally that nothing w*ikl be done until the Prime Minister bad visited Dunedin, when a deputation consisting of every member of _ the trust would put the whole position before him. The object of the deputation was sot down in the following terms;— “To inform Mr Coates that the amount spent on protective works in the Taieri district lias been more than was estimated, and the trust is now in a position in which the works nearly complete are inadequate to secure the district. A further amount is necessary to take advantage of the money now spent, which, unless supplemented, will bo lost insofar as the security of the district is boncerned.”