MANAWATU COUNTY AND FLOOD PROTECTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3523, 12 August 1926, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY AND FLOOD PROTECTION.

NATIONAL SCEME FAVOURED.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Manawatu County Council, a letter was received from the chairman of the recently-appointed Mana-ivatu-Oroua River- Board Commission, suggesting that the Council should arrive at a decision as to the attitude of the County to be proposed scheme. The chairman (Cr. 11. H. Hunt) and Councillors Barber and Boyce were previously appointed to represent the Council’s views before the Commission. Cr. Barber desired to know what stand the Council’s delegates were to take. He was in favour of the River Board’s scheme, provided the whole of the watershed area was brought into the rating scheme. The lower portions of the County, which comprised the best land, were subject to continual flooding and the Council would require to fully consider the whole position before opposing the scheme. He understood that if the watershed area was brought in as a national scheme, the rating would amount to about 5d an acre.

Cr. Fagan considered that the County was not interested beyond the main highway which traversed the area subjected to flooding, and if was not fair to ask the County as a whole to contribute. It would be an injustice to the ratepayers of the northern area of the County. It would be reasonable to rate the whole of the watershed area.

The County engineer (Mr. Hickford) said roads had been severely damaged, and it would cost several hundred pounds to effect repairs.

Cr. Boyce favoured a national scheme, embracing the watershed area, but, was opposed to the proposed scheme of including the whole of the County.

The County clerk stated that if the Commission found in favour of the scheme, its findings would be binding on all the Counties cited. The Chairman (Cr. Hunt) thought that if the scheme was not made a national one, the cost would compel farmers to walk off their farms. The fact that the area subjected to flooding contained the Shannon, Whirokino and Rangiotu main highways, confirmed his opinion that the scheme should be a national one. The recent flood had caused the closing of these highways. Unless the scheme was nationalised lie was opposed to the top end of teh County being rated.

Cr; Barber said that lie had toured the flooded area with members of the Manaivatu-Oroua River Board, who had stated that unless the Government came into the scheme the cost would be too heavy top end of the County being rated.

The chairman remarked that lie did not question the efficiency of the proposed work, but lie did question the cost.

iCr. Boyce suggested that the Council should take up a stand favouring a national scheme, and under such a. scheme the County would at lease receive a subsdiy of £ for £. Cr. Fagan moved that it be a recommendation to the Council’s committee, that the Manawatu-Oroua River Board’s scheme be supported, provided it is made a national scheme, embracing the whole of the watershed area.

Cr. Reid seconded the mation which was carried.

In connection with damage to highways the clerk mentioned that an extraordinary amount of damage had been done to the Shannon road, and as the Highways Board’s estimates had been approved, the Council should seek a special grant to repair this highway. The Council agreed to get into immediate touch with the Highways Board on the question.