MANAWATU RIVER COMMISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1848, 4 July 1918, Page 3

MANAWATU RIVER COMMISSION.

The adjourned enquiry regarding the Mannwatu river commenced ati Palmerston North on Tuesday, the Commissioners being Mr W. G. K. Kenrick, S.M.(chairman), Mr I'V W. Furkett, and Mr J. B. Thompson. The enquiry is being held under (lie “Commission of Enquiry Act, 1008,” and the matters into which it is to enquire include the best methods of providing for the control of the Mnnawatu river and its banks, the desirability of appointing one competent authority to control the whole of the river, and the area which should be included in such district if constituted. The Commission is also authorised to enquire whether’, in addition to the powers contained in the River Boards Act, the powers contained in the Land Drainage Act should also be-conferred on the Board of the proposed district, and -whether any additional powers to those in the Act should be conferred on the Board. The Commission is also to enquire regarding any other matter in conenction with the protection of land from damage by the Manawatu river.

The Chairman said that a petition, Avhieh had been signed by 1,388 ratepayers out of 1,602 on the roll of the district, had been forwarded to the Governor-General from ratepayers of the Palmerston North River Board’s district favouring the abolition of the River Board. An objection to the abolition of the River Board ■ was received from the Palmerston North Borough Council. Mr Cooke, representing the Palmerston Borough Council, explained the attitude taken up by the Borough Council, which had originally had charge of the river and which, if the River Board Avas abolished, Avould again have charge of the river. The Council had always taken up the attitude that its poAvers Avere not sufficient, and it took steps to have the River Board formed. The Council supported the formation of one controlling authority for the river at least from the Gorge to Foxton. The river from the Gorge to Foxton Avas 68 to 70 miles in length, Avhile as the crow flies it was only 25 miles. By straightening the river it might assist the Harbour Board. Good Avork had been done by the Drainage Boards, and their rights Avould require to be considered. The operations of the Drainage Boards and the Harbour Board would require consideration. A report by the engineers formerly prepared submitted that the area of the district Avas altogether too small. If the Commission was not prepared to recommend a comprehensive scheme, the Borough Council objected to the abolition of the present River Board, as that Board had much greater poAvers than the Borough Council Avould have. Evidence on behalf of the Palmerston Borough was given by Mr 8. Jickell.

A. IT. M. Wright, engineer to (he Manawatu Land Drainage Board and the Aorangi Drainage Board, said both hoards strongly objected to the proposal that (hey he merged into the suggested River Board. They were both in a good tinaneial position, and considered they were, carrying ont (heir duty satisfactorily. They considered that (hey would have nothing to gain by merging into one Board. Joseph Liggins, chairman of (he, Makerna Drainage Board,' deposed that liis Board oh.jeeted to being abolished. The swamp that the Board controlled was used' for growing flax. He said that a River Board might make the river so dry that the flax would not grow. His Board had drained the land so that it. would grow flax. He considered the land was more valuable foi* growing flax than it would be for dairying purposes. The flax would grow in land that was never Hooded, but it was not of so much value. He did not expect the price of flax to drop to an unpayable price after the war. Eight hundred acres of flax land would grow sufficient flax to. keep 50 families.

To Mr Jickell: All the members of his Board, except one, were flaxmillers. The Board had been formed for the purpose of draining the Makerna swamp, and had been successful in its work. The flax grub, was unusually bad this year, and this he attributed to the dry summers recently experienced. Flax was at present worth £42 per ton. They would not be able to carry on the business if the price was £2l per ton, but he did not think the price would fall to that figure. J. 0. Batcheiar deposed that he was one of the trustees of the present River Board, representing the Kairanga portion of the district. He was opposed to the River Board, and had been since its inception. He considered each owner should protect his own portion of the river bank. If the River Board is to continue in existence it should take in the whole of the watershed of the Manawatu river. In its present state the Board's district was too small for the work to be done.

Hugh Akers, chairman of the Pal-merston-Kairanga River Board, deposed that he had contended all along that the River Board should be abolished and the Borough and County should take charge of their Respective portions of the river for the purpose of protecting the banks. There would be no need to extend the area of the River Board if the members would only pull together and to do what was required. Witness owned about 22 miles of fiver frontage below the Palmerston Borough, and a big. Hood would do his laud good' in certain

places. He did not think one big river board controlling a large area Avould he a success.

R, T. Bell, managing director of Te Mnkanui, Ltd., Tokomaru, and Whitannni, Ltd., Moutoa,,said that from a flaxmilling point of view the periodical flooding of the land Avas beneficial. In the years in which they had not had floods the insect pest increased. So far they had not tried flooding of the.land artificially, but they might have to try to do so. His companies Avould not get any benefit from the loAvering of the level of the river; he thought it would he a dangerous thing to do, so far as flax was concerned. He was opposed to the extension of the River Board district, but was not prepared to say if the present Board should he abolished. He thought if they lowered the level of the river and made the current faster it Avould take the shingle further down the river, and cause more erosion. The areas he represented Avould be more profitable under flax than for any other purpose. If they Avanted to turn those areas into grazing areas (hey would have to go to great expense to keep the Avater off. Although the flax lands Avoro at present profitable, they might be made even more so. He considered it would not be fair for the flax lands to be rated for any loan that Avould only benefit the town. Mr Furkett asked Avhat the total area under flax was, and Avituess said that at the Moutoa and Makerua the flax area Avas betAveen 20,000 and 30,000 acres. To Mr H. Akers: Flax was peculiar to New Zealand, and Avas a natural product of the country. If the SAvamp became top dry, it might he burnt right out. A fire might burn the soil to such a depth that it would he useless for growing grass. Witness said the peat land Avas being improved by every flood that came over it.

The Commisison at this stage adjourned, and Avill sit at Foxton tomorroAV, and at Palmerston on Saturday morning.