DAMAGE INSPECTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 504, 6 November 1928, Page 1

DAMAGE INSPECTED

WAIRARAPA FLOODS MINISTER ON STOP-BANKS Press Association MASTERTON, Monday. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, in his capacity as Minister of Lands, made an inspection of the Lower Wairarapa Valley to form an idea of the damage done by the recent floods. The Crown areas mc/,t seriously affected comprise the Tawaha and Pahautea settlements. At the Minister’s direction, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. Macintosh, visited the settlements and discussed matters with the settlers concerned. Speaking at Pahautea, Mr. McLeod denied a rumour circulated throughout the district that the Government had power to prevent the erection of certain private stop banks, and that they could not be erected without the authority of an Order-in-Council. Speaking as a Minister, Mr. McLeod said definitely that the Government had nothing to do with the matter, and that it could not prevent anybody endeavouring to protect his own lands from inundation by flood waters. The Government had no authority to interfere in such cases. All that the legislation did was to provide facilities for action in law where an individual or group of individuals considered they had suffered damage as the result of protective works. The Minister stated that he question of stop banks in the lower reaches of the Ruamahanga River was now more or less involved in a comprehensive scheme affecting the whole district, and in that connection the opinions of the Government experts would be at the disposal of the settlers. They would also advise in individual cases where settlers so desired.