FLOOD CONTROL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4443, 24 April 1930, Page 3

FLOOD CONTROL.

STATE SUBSIDY SOUGHT. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. The Manawatu-Oroua River Board’s proposals in connection with the safe-guarding of Hood areas in the board’s district, ana also in connection with a Government subsidy, were placed before the Minister of Public Works (lion. E. A. Ransom) by members of tlve board in Palmerston North yesterday. The board suggested a minimum Government subsidy on the basis of £5 for .66, but the Minister considered that the hoard could not expect the Government assistance to be more than £IOO,OOO, spread over a. period of live years. . After the Minister had been avcleomed by Mr. J. Linklater, M.P. for Manawatu, be was addressed by Mr. W. S. Carter, chairman of the River Board, who said that since Mr. Ransom had inspected the board’s area, he and his colleagues had met to discuss matters, and had conic to the conclusion that it would he host to put the matter in as concise a form as possible. The hoard’s action, continued Mr. ■Carter, if carried out, would save ihe Highways Board a great deal of money aud would also ensure the safety of the road. Regarding the Minister’s intimation that he did not think the national interest in the undertaking warranted a £1 for £1 subsidy, Mr. Carter thought that when ho was placed in possession of all the facts he would be convinced that the scheme was quite a good business proposition. Mention was made of the unexcelled nature of the land, it being pointed out that as soon as the scheme was advanced to a reasonable extent, closer settlement would start. In conclusion Mr. Garter asked Mr. Ransom to consider the proposal ill a favourable light, adding that they had now reached the Mage where they were in a very angei'ous position, and that under the present circumstances there was little possibility of close settlement. COMPLETE DIVERSION OF RIVER.

■Speaking on behalf of the river board, the engineer (Mr. F. C. Hay) said that jobs one to live, which had for their object the complete diversion of the Manawatu River into a new improved course, were the foundation of the hoard’s

.scheme. “Their importance to the whole district,” he continued, “and their effect in safeguarding the lines of communication, place them in a category quite different from any local undertaking and from the remaining works included in the hoard’s complete scheme. “These works are, my board considers, of national importance, giving' as they will stability to the highways and railways traversing the area, enabling' improved routes for both to be selected, and preventing dislocation of business between town and country, and communication from north to

south. ‘‘These works, jobs 1 to 5, will, after allowing for severance, cost £224,250, and it is suggested that £1 for £1 is the minimum Government contribution towards the cost of these essentially public works, for the balance of the works comprised iu the initial scheme, costing £L05,750, the board considers that, of the total benelits derivable from them, the local benefit is greater than the national benefit. The national beneht, however, is direct one in respect to the safeguarding of lines of communieai ion, and is an indirect one in the various important ways summarised in the report of the 1926 commision. My board, therefore, after very careful consideration,” lie said, “lias come to the conclusion that the minimum Government contribution towards the £105,750 should he £38,000, making the total Government contribution £150,000, and the district contribution £IBO,000.