PREVENTION OF FLOODS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3667, 19 July 1927, Page 2

PREVENTION OF FLOODS.

RANGITAIKI PROBLEM

STOP BANKS TOO COSTLY.

Whakatane, July 15.

A reply to a recent request by Rangitaiki settlers in reference to the stop-banking of the Rangitaiki River has been received from the Minister of Public Works, Hon. K. S. Williams. He states: —“It appears that the construction-of these banks is estimated to cost approximately £46,000, that is to say, £22,000 south of the railway line,, and £24,000 north of the railway. I could not ask Cabinet to approve of such a large sum of money from Government funds, and if anything was done, only a subsidy on money raised by yourselves is likely to be granted. “In any case, it seems doubtful if the damages at present incurred by flooding are sufficiently great to warrant such a large expenditure, nor is it evident that in the present state of development of the land the benefits obtained would ( compensate for the expenditure. “If, however, you think differently, the best way to secure flood protection you ask for would be for the interested settlers to form a local River Board District, and then to prepare a scheme and submit it to a poll of the ratepayers. If this were done the Government would then no doubt sympathetically consider the question of a subsidy on any loan money raised.”