RIVER CONTROL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3622, 5 April 1927, Page 3

RIVER CONTROL

THE MANAWATU SCHEME

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY CLAIMED.

Claiming that effective river protection was vital to the interests of the whole district a deputation from the Manawatu-Oroua River Board, which waited on the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams) yesterday asked that the recommendations of the Commission which recently investigated the position be given effect to, and that the Government contribute the suggested subsidy of over £200,000 towards the proposed scheme. The ease for the deputation wa§ advanced by Mr J. Linklater, M.P., Messrs ,T. S. Carter (chairman of tho River Board), Mr Hay' (the engineer), and other speakers. It was contended that the institution of Itjie river protection scheme would make for closer settlement, increased increased values, main highway benefits, removal of the flood damage danger, and elimination of settlers’ claims in that direction. Piecemeal work would be of no value. The proposed scheme, in which 70,000 acres of land was affected, was to straighten the river and erect more adequate hanks. The Commission which inquired into the matter had come to the conclusion that the Government subsidy towards the scheme suggested should be £201,000, spread over a period, of five years. The amount required to carry out the scheme and to satisfy the demands of flic Makerua Drainage Board, whose operations w<Juldihe absorbed bv tho Manawatu Board, would he £571,979, made up as follows: — River Board’s operations, £450,000; Makerua works, £71,975; internal drainage, £50,000. The C'ommis--sion had also suggested the followins- contributions for the local authorities concerned: —Manawatu drainage district, £261,130; internal drainage £50,000: county councils and other drainage boards, £47,304; borough councils, £12,500; the proposed Government subsidy, as mentioned, being £201,000. Without the last mentioned item, the scheme could not go on, and the board could not place its loan proposals before the ratepayers. The district, it was stated, had always helped itself in the past, but its turn had now come when assistance from the State could he sought. Accordingly they asked that the recommendations of the Commission be given effect to. Makerua had protected about 20,000 acres of land, which, however, at any time might become subject to the flood danger. In reply, the Prime Minister said Jie did not propose to discuss the proposals of the deputation, but he would remind them that the resources of the Government were not inexhaustible, and before any contributions of the nature suggested cbuld be considered the Government would have to be very certain that the scheme would prove successful. He recognised the importance and the value of the work to the people affected, and he proposed to have the matter gone into carefully by the Minister of Public Works and suitable authorities. The deputation would be advised as soon a.s consideration had been given the proposals, and the question as to how much, if anything, the Government might contribute. The deputation, added the Prime Minister, had come along at a time when it was a little difficult for the Minister of Finance to find all the money that would enable the work to be carried out, in addition to other calls on the Treasury.