MANAWATU DRAINAGE SCHEME

Shannon News, 14 October 1927, Page 4

MANAWATU DRAINAGE SCHEME

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE WELLINGTON, Oct. 11. A deputation from the ManawatuOroua= RiveV Board introduced by Mr J. Linklater, M.P., waited on the Minister of Public Works to-day regarding the institution of a comprehensive drainage scheme for the whole district. Mr r Linklater . said that the cost of the scheme would be £571,000. They wished to know if the Government would contribute to such a scheme. The expenditure would extend over several, vears. HOW POPULATION WOULD INCREASE.

Mr Carter, the chairman of the board, placed the matter in detail before the Minister. He said that protection from flooding would give an increase of 1800 population. Fifty acres would support a large family. A modified scheme would cost £205,000 and the engineers considered that it would be effective. It would shorten the course to the sea by 27 miles. He-realised that banking was a disastrous proposition without an expeditious method of getting the flood away. If some scheme was notadopted' the land would depreciate iii value very considerably in respect to its productivity. At present it was-not known when the River Board would get going. They wanted the Government to go into the whole matter and decide for itself whether it would not be better to get a comprehensive scheme going. They were now in the position that they must get yes or no from the Government. If the Government came to their assistance with a subsidy the board would be off their hands. Mr Williams: I'm not so sure whether you will be off our hands or in our GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST. Mr Linklater said that the Government's interest in the district amounted to £190,852 in soldiers' settlement lands, advances to settlers, etc. Mr Williams: How many boards are there controlling the area now? Mr Carter: Oh, search me. After counting them up, he said that there were five or six.

Mr Williams said that in order to get Government assistance the control should be by one board. Mr Carter said that no doubt if the •scheme went on it would work in the direction of correcting that trouble. Mr Williams: I should say that it was essential. "MOVING VERY SLOWLY."

Mr Cartel: So far it is moving very slowly.' There are too many boards; that has been the trouble in the past. Mr A. Seifert said that the present system of banking the river in different places-irrespective, of a general scheme would end in disaster. The straightening of the liver was an absolute necessity.

■;. Mr 11, Akers and Mr Andrew Buchanan Vware the other speakers. They stated that a very seiious flood might result in. loss of life. Mi Jfrarkert said that there was no doubt: that, if tbey made the river shoiteiy the water would get off quicker. The question was: would it get off sufficiently quickly to give a letum for the expenditure i That question could not be easily answered. A complete scheme had been proposed to cost i 571,000. The Government was asked how much it would pay on that. Now, however, they were proposing to do only t.vc-fifths- or less which meant that the Government would have only a limited interest in it. MINISTER'S REPLY.

Mr Williams in reply said that he could scarcely say more than he had told a iccenfc deputation. There were two or three points to be considered before the Government came into the scheme, including: (1) the soundness cf the scheme from the engineering point of view, and (2) hoAV far the Government was justified in assisting a scheme for the most part affecting private interests although in the interests of the Dominion it might eventually pay the Government to support it. He might say that he had been very favourably impressed with the district. He was also very keen on the flax industry although ho had never been personally interested in it. He thought, however, that wo were only beginning to know how valuable it might be to the Dominion, lie would have to consult his colleagues on the whole question.