CONTROL OF RIVERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 11, 28 January 1937, Page 5

CONTROL OF RIVERS

—Press Association.)

Need of a Comprehensive Nature MDOSTER'S COMMENT

(Bv Telegraph-

PALMEESTON N., This Day. In the course of his reply to a deputation which sought State aetion to urevent erosion by the Eangitikei river below Bulls, the Hon. E. Semple, Miuister of Public Works, said: "We shall have to tackle the problem of tens of thousands of acres being vvashed out to sea. We cannot allow it to continue. We have read of what happened in America. My study of the rivers of the Dominion makes me thiulc that such is not impossible in New Zealand. ' ' He did not desire io be called a fatalist or a scaremonger, but in his opinion the Manawatu river carried a certain terrible risk if it were not dealt with methodically and scientifically. The trouble was not confined to the Manawatu and the Eangitikei. A good deal of the trouble was mancreated. There had been ruthless destruction of timber on the hillsides without an afforestation policy for replacement. The Minister considered that the proper control of rivers was^so diffieult and so costly that it should never have been thrown overboard by nationally responsible authorities to drainage boards and county councils. There should have been comprehensive schemes embarked upon after scientific investigation. Every man had looked after his own patch and emptied water on to others. The Minister. did not blame him. The Minister referred to the stationing of a Public Works engineer at Palmerston North who would make a special study and survey of tlie Manawatu river aud would also give attention to the Eangitikei. The Governmeut was conscious of its responsibility. Meanwhile, in order to stay the trouble temporarily, measures would be considered.