WAIKATO RIVER BOARD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 217, 31 July 1914, Page 1

WAIKATO RIVER BOARD.

A Special Meeting Held.

To Consider Mr Thompson's Report.

The report made by Mr J. B. Thompson, land drainage engineer, upon the drainage of the Wbangamarino swamp, has met with a hot reception at the hands of the Waikato River Board. A summary of this report (which was laid before the House on Wednesday evening) appeared in Friday's " J imes." In pursuance of the authority given by the ratepayers to raise a loan of £6OOO the Board was negotiating with a financial institution whose Board of Directors was to consider the proposal on the s;me day that the adverse repor: on the drainage proposals was placed before the House. It was to this that the chairman of the Board (Mr (Uass) took strongest exception. " It seems," he said, " that as soon as this Board moved to take any action they were blocked in one way or the other."

A special meeting of tho Board was held on Saturday afternoon to consider the position. Mr Glass presided and Messis Hill, Dean, Olephane, Bodmin and Galleiy were also present. Mr Glass reviewed at length the proceedings of the Board and recounted the " checks " which the Board had met with. He jrfotested against the waite of money in going right round the swamp for the surveys ; all the summer had been wasted and now there was not a man at work on the Whangamarino swamp. What he had asked the Minister was to let a contract for £6OO, for which eudi the Austrians would put a series of drains through the swamps and complete the work in two mouths. And there was enough gum in the top end to pay for the work three times over. He would do the work himself for the money. Mr Glass proceeded to read the newspaper summary of Mr Thompson's report. He scouted the suggestion to bank the Maramarua and Whangamarino rivers. " Did you ever hear of such a thing ?" asked Mr Glass. " These rivers are 24 miles long, so that each river would require 48 miles of stop-bank. I should think such a scheme would be costly." Mr Glass went on to say that tho area was not 11,000 acres as stated by Mr Thompson, but 30.000 acres. Mr Glats said it had already been agreed to pay on a basis of benefits and he protested against Mr Thompson suggesting that it would be useless to subsidise any local body. That suggestion was made to block the subsidy which the Board had asked for. The engineer should not be boss of the roost but it seemed that Mr Thompson was engineer, commission, Minister, and everyone else. He thought that anyone who knew anything about the river could lay out a better report in five minutes with their eyes shut.

TUB WATERWAYS COMMIS3IOX.

The Minister for Marine, in reply to a request that the order of reference of the loland Waterways should be amended to include the improvement of the Waikato river, wrote saying he was conferring with the chairman of the Canal Commission upon the request made, and as soon as a decision was made he would write further.

WHAT THE I!<»ARD WANT£I>

At a previous meeting of the Board it was decided, That the Government be approached asking for a subsidy of £2 for £1 on the £6OOO loan approved by the ratepayers of the Waikato river district, to be expended on the woiks mentioned as per Land Department's letter dated 27th March, 1914, and plans passed by the Marine Department two years ago, and if the Department would request Mr Ferguson, the engineer appointed on the Inland Waterways

Commission, to confer with the Board's consulting engineer, Mr Kennedy, in order that the River Board's works will not act in a prejudicial manner to the probable p/oposed canal scheme.

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The Piirce Minister in reply said : " I would point out that such subsidy would be equivalent to £1'2,000 and I regret that I cannot see my way clear to obtain such an appropriation on the Estimates. lam unable to agree with your Board that any useful purpose would be served by arranging a meeting between Mr Kennedy, C.E., and Mr Ferguson at this stage, seeing that the Inland Waterways Commission raustgo thoroughly into the whole matter of Waikato river improvement and canal requirements publicly. . . • lam of opinion that the consideration of a subsidy had better stand over until the Koyal Commission's rinding is known."

THE BOARIt's KE.JOINHER

The secretary of the Boaid replied to Mr Massey as follows: "I am directed by the AVaikato River Board, in reply to your letter, to point out to you that the amount of rates likely to be collected w ; H be about £450, to be expended on general management and improvement works. Before considering the question of subsidy you suggested the Board should cany out the following necessary preliminaries:—' (1) That your Board instructs its engineer to prepare complete plans, specifications and estimates of the work proposed to be done.' —A copy of Mr Kennedy's report is now in your office which gives full particulars of the proposed work and its cost. ' (-) That these plans be submitted to tho Minister for Marine for approval; seeing that the Waikato river is a navigable river, and therefore under his jurisdiction, I would point out that this is very essential as his consent is necessary.'—Plans have already been passed by the Minister of Marine and estimates of the cost were now in the Wellington office. ' (3) That your Board should in due course place the matter before the ratepayers, and proceod to tako a poll for the raising of tho necessary funds required.'-The poll for the loan was carried by a large majority and we cannot understamd your remarks a3 to not having carried out your instructions. The Waterways Commissioners have already pointed out to us that their order of reference did not extend to our work in any shape or form, and the Minister for Marine pointed out that he was now considering the question as to whether the order of reference could bo extended so as to meet ou- views. Referring to Mr Skcet's report your telegram stated that you would send us a copy, taking out confidential portions, if any, and what we asked for was not a question of cutting up the lands for settlement but the drainage of these lands. The Board would like to know whether you intend to give any subsidy or not on the £6OOO loan ?"

TIIK IILOCKED SUBSIDY

Mr Glass said that upon learning of Mr Thompson's report the following telegram was sent to Messrs Lang, Rhodes, R. F. Bollard and Sir Joseph Ward, M.'sP.: " Intense indignation expressed everywhere Thompson's report appearing whilst we are obtaining loan. Evidently Government intends boycotting Board from starting if possible. Indignation meeting being arranged." Mr Bollard wired a reply: " Rhodes and I consulted Mr Massey who advises Board should petition for a parliamentary enquiry."

WHAT 3H0U1.1l HE DOS J!

Mr Glass said that Mr Massey advised the Board to apply for a Parliamentary enquiry. But the Prime Minister would put whoever he liked on that committee. Mr Bodmin said it had not yet been shown that Mr Massey stuffed the commissions.

Mr Glass explained the preliminary work that had been undertaker. Punts and plant had been arranged for. But if they were going to get no loan money and no subsidy what were they to do ? He reckoned that Mr Thompson was biassed against the schome in the tirst place and should not havo been sent to make the second report.

Mr Bodniin .'aid the loan was for the purpose of doing wotk at n point down stream where the engineers nli agreed good work could be done. So that there was no reason why the loin money .should not be spent.

The chairman said they wanted the subsidy as well. They should challenge this report of Mr Thump soa's at once. Mr Bodniin : Of course the impression given by Mr Thompson's report is that all the Boaid's work is upset. But what aro you going to do'' Mr Massey promise 1 a Commission but now fxplains that the promise was conditional upon Mr Thompson's levels confirming Mr Bieaknal'.'s levels .Since the levels were different, and Mr Brcakall's were shown to be wrong, Mr Massey says the engineering commission becomes unnecessary.

Mr Glass explained that a mistake had heen made by Mr Break all in using the words Mercer wharf in his report; his levels did not stop at that point. He thought they should get three members of the Opposition and three Government members up to Mercer, explain the position to them and get their advice, or let the thing be fought out on the floor of the House. This Board would not he blocked with their loan as tiny could got the brokers to take it up. Mr Dean : It may not he wise to make the matter a political cue. Mr Glass : Everything is political nowadays. The l'iirliaujeutary enquiry would be political, hut the Government would have the luilauce of power. Mr Hill : Let us go on with the work at Kaitangata.

Mr Clephane : Would £OOOO do that woik ?

Th chairman : Yes, temporarily. But wo would not have the groynes.

Mr Hill: Let us do it temporarily then We have been doing too much talking and too little working. Let us got on with the work.

Mr Bodmin : l>o tho temporary work and lower the river a few feet; that will be the best argument. Mr Hill said at first he was against the groyne going hi, but ho was glad it was done now because it showed that good work could be done.

Mr Clephane pointed out that by going ahead with the work before all the money was provided for they would be going agaiust tho advice of their own engineor. The chairman . Mr Massey has opposed this Board all alung. Mr Bodmin : Mr Massey could not give a subsidy in the face of his engineer's report. Thi Board subsequently went into committee to corsider what action should bs taken. The dsiisioi arrived at, if any, is not yet available for publication.