RIVER BOARD’S PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ACT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3970, 13 July 1929, Page 2

RIVER BOARD’S PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ACT.

CRITICISED BY MOUTOA drainage BOARD.

At the monthly meeting of the Moutoa Drainage Board held on Thursday evening the Chairman I Mr. J. Chrystall) took strong exception to the Manawatu-Oroua River Board’s proposed amendment to the Aet, which, he said, would empower the Board to make certain cuts in the river and to charge the cost of such work to the various subdivisions of the district, Avhich would be directly benefited. Mr. Chrystall spolke very strongly on the matter and stated that if any cuts were made further up the river as was proposed by the River Board, it Avonld cause a disaster in the loAver area, which Avould he literally drowned by the enormous volume of Avater rushing doAvn. Even at present the river was not capable of carrying its flood waters. The Manawatu was continually bursting its hanks in the lower area and any additional force of Avater caused by cuts made higher up, would absolutely swamp the lower end of the basin with dire results to all concerned. He was further opposed to the amendment owing to the fact that the fate of the main spillway scheme had not yet been decided. If the main scheime were proceeded Avith the cuts Avould be unnecessary. Trustee B. G. Gower Avas of opinion that if any cuts were made these should be located in the loAver area. 'Trustees R. Bryant and D. Purcell endorsed the chairman’s . remarks and expressed the opinion that it Avould be a serious thing for the people of the Moutoa if the cuts proposed to be put in higher up wejre gone on with. After further discussion the folOAving motion Avas carried: — “That this hoard emphatically objects to the suggested amendment to the ManaAvatu-Oroua River Board Act to allow various cuts adjacent, to the Manawatu river. This board submits that any cuts made should he at the lower end of the river otherwise residents in the tidal area will he continually flooded out, and further that no cuts should be allotved until the fate of the main spillway scheme is knoAvn, and that Avonk of a piecemeal nature should be avoided. Also that a'copy of this resolution be lodged at the' Magistrate’s Court and one copy to be forwarded to the Minister of Internal Acairs.”