RIVER CONTROL SCHEME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3938, 4 May 1929, Page 3

RIVER CONTROL SCHEME.

MR, CHRYSTALL’S STATEMENT CONTRADICTED. The Manawatu-Oroua River Board met at Palmerston on Thursday, Mi’. W. IS. Carter presiding. Also present were Messrs H. Barber, B. G. Gower, R. Tanner, A. Seifert, A. Buchanan and J. E. C. Harrison. Mr. Gower said that he had a few remarks to make with regard to the opposition to the board’s modified scheme expressed at a meeting of ratepayers held on April 21. Mr. J. Chrystall, chairman of the Moutoa Drainage Board, had taken a leading part. As a member of the Moutoa Drainage Board, Mr. Gower'considered that he should point out that Mr. Chrystall was not speaking with the authority of the Board. It had been reported in the Press that Mr. Chrystall had stated that, at a meeting of Moutoa ratepayers, not six had been in favour of the scheme. Mir. Gower stated that the meeting was not held to discuss the river board’s scheme, (but loan proposals affecting the drainage board. -The scheme had been discussed, it was true, but no vote had been taken oil it. He wished to emphaticajly contradict Mr. Chrystall’s statement. The chairman endorsed Mr. Gower’s rejinafiks, commenting that, at the Moutoa meeting, he had had to correct Mr. Chrystall’s statement. It was decided to hold a meeting on May 9 when delegates from local bodies supporting the scheme could discuss the matter prior to the deputation waiting upon the Government. The chairman stated that he would endeavour to fix a date for the deputation.