Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1929. RIVER CONTROL CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3899, 26 January 1929, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1929. RIVER CONTROL CONFERENCE.

THE conference of local body delegates held on Thursday, to discuss the Manawatu-Oroua Rivers Board’s modified scheme to control the Hood waters of the Manawatu, made it clear that the work cannot be undertaken without Government -assistance" and, : further, that local bodies would not be called upon to share any portion of the burden. That is to say the cost of the scheme and maintenance would be borne equally by the settlers in the Board’s district and the State. The Board is, however, to ibe commended for its tenacity in grappling with the problem in submit" ting a modified scheme which will co-ordinate the efforts of the various drainage boards in the district. The suggestion made that the Public Works Department should undertake the scheme, if endorsed by the conference, would throw doubt on the river board’s ability to complete the work for the amount estimated. It is, however, extremely unlikely' that the Government would carry out the work unless the land owners agreed to pay their share of the capital cost, and this would have to be done through the river, board as a rating authority. That the Government, should .subsidise a work of this nature no one will deny, but in what poprortion would ibe decided by the financial benefit likely to accrue to the State. It must also be remembered that when the land was taken up, the various purchasers knew what to expect from ilood menace. What attitude the landowners will take up when a loan poll is submitted for tliedr endorsement has yet to be ascertained.