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Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1928, Page 4

Tin; Westland County Council took tiie serious view the eii'cum.st atiees warrant in re-poet to the position of the Little Wanganui river erosion. Itwould appear I rum the discussion at the Council table, that the members teal iso a large expenditure i.s involved. Assuming that the enmplete works-are duly sanctioned a large expenditure is involved. Flo far some CIO(K) i.s available hut it appeal's doubtful if this will lie .sufficient, v. bile there is the contingent liability for damages which have been indicated as a lik-el.iluxKl. On that account it would appear the Council was wise to endeavour to enlist the personal attention of the Minister Tor Public Works. 11 is officials can only i-'port in the matter. II is for I lie .Minister to decide so important a question as the future liability. And it. is not possible for a stranger to seize t.hr gravity of the situation without personal view of the position, ijo re is a river liable to heavy .Hooding threatening to devastate a eonsidorable ansi of low-lying country, now oeeiipi das farms. Probably at least 01)01) acres are involved—-all in profit. A dairy factory and many !ion:''-stead>. as well as roads and bridges are menaced, li is perhaps hard to realise all (hi.-, without a personal inspection. The lion, gentleman who has just taken up the portfolio ol .Minister of Public Works, happens to !.-e a farmer of repute. From his knowled;/;!' of land values, a personal in-spe-tion would soon satisfy him ol the loss which will ensue if the position is 'not. secured before the big floods come. It is the confirmed opinion of those familiar with the outlook, that a large tract of productive country will he destroyed. unless the position is grappled with determinedly, li: -seems a great pity that the present delay is occtiring and the work suspended—when il must he done ultimately. The assets at stake fully warrant the work, for if destruction comes upon the InterWanganui flat, the loss will then be irreparable, and there will be a complaint naturally at the faint heartodness at this juncture. The position is so menacing that it is courting disaster to leave (he necessary work undone for the matter of merely marking tin?*' for the purpose of an odieia! report. It unncurs to us I lie work should he pushed on with till vigor, and the .Minister should he pressed to vb'\\ the situation with the least possible delay. The matter is of great importance to tin* district as a whole, for the part affected is no inconsiderable nortiou of the farming district- adding to the permanent prosveritv of Westland. Delay is said In lie dangerous. It appears to he sneejallv so in Ibis instance.