KOMATA DRAINAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4981, 31 May 1926, Page 2

KOMATA DRAINAGE.

DEPUTATION TO MR. COATES. DEPARTMENT TO BEAR COST. A large deputation of Komata settlers waited on the Prime Minister during his.visit to Paeroa on Thurs day in connection with drainage matters. In introducing the deputation Mr A. M. Samuejl, M.P., explained that the settlers in the Puke-Komat,a area had received little or no benefit from the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Scheme. In fact, he; was prepared to say that they weie handicapped by the. works, for the reason that the storm-water from the higher ground could not get away quickly enough. It was understood that the Public Works Department had a scheme under way for affording ■relief, but the difficulty was .that the settlers were to be charged with a large proportion of the cost. Although willing to help themselves, it was almost an impossibility for them to put up the money required by the; department to carry out the work. The district and resident engineers of the department had mat the settlers and discussed the position. Mr Campbell was fajniliar with the; position, and had undertaken to submit a report to the department. So far nothing had been done, and the plight of the settlers was becoming increasingly worse.

Producing plans .and photographs in support of the claim Mr J. T. Brown explained that before the erection of the. stop-banks .the storm-water from the higher country got away quickly, but now the pastures were inundated for three weeks at a time, causing untold damage to forage a,nd toot crops. Further, in the years gone by it required fully eight hours before the peak of the flood occurred : now it became critical in about 20 minutes. The department fully ’realised the hardship that had been imposed on the settlers, but the scheme of stop-banking and drains that had been proposed to give relief .was beyond the means of the settlors. It seemed unfair that the work of many years should be ruined, ajid the land to depreciate considerably in value, through no fault of the; owners. An earnest request was made .to have the proposed work included in the integral rivers improvement scheme, and that the, relief from flooding should be done at. once and at no additional cost to the settlers. After consultation with the resident engineer the Prime Minister stated that he desired to help the settlers all he could, and instructions would be; given to have protective measures undertaken at the earliest possible moment. The work had been estimated to cost abofut £l7oo’, of which the settlers were expected to contribute £B5O. In view of the hardship imposed, and the fact that th® settlers had made an earnest endeavour to help themselves, the department would waive its claim 'for th® £B5O, provided the settlers were prepared to shoulder their share of the genera.! scheme. On behalf of the deputation Mr Samuel tha.nked the Prime Minister for granting the request.