NATIONAL PROBLEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1941, Page 5

NATIONAL PROBLEM

» — SOIL CONSERVATION & RIVER CONTROL BILL WELL SUPPORTED IN HOUSE. NEED OF EARLY ACTION EMPHASISED. ißy Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Moving the second reading of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday, the Minister of Public Works (Mr Armstrong) said that when the second reading had been carried, reading the Bill would be referred back to the Select Committee of the House which had been responsible for it, and all persons or bodies interested and anxious to make representations would be invited to do so. The committee, said Mr Armstrong, had taken voluminous evidence from interested parties over a period of months, and the Bill was its unanimous finding even though some members had had to make concessions even of principle for the sake of unanimity. Credit for the work done in framing the Bill was due chiefly to the committee and to the former Minister of Public Works (Mr Semple). Speaking of the urgency of dealing with the problems which the Bill proposed to tackle, Mr Armstrong said that in proportion to its land area, New' Zealand was suffering as greatly as any country in the world where river control and soil erosion were national problems. He hoped that another year would not be allowed to go by without an attempt to deal nationally with the trouble. In the past river control projects in various parts of the country had not been altogether a waste of money. But they had been only a patchwork. He did not suggest that the Bill was perfect, and would not be surprised to hear criticism from both sides of the House. He would anticipate the criticism that the catchment boards would be under the domination of the Minister, but this would not be the position. Where river boards were doing satisfactory work, it was not intended to make any alteration in control. The Government desired to retain local interest . and experience wherever they were doing the job. OPPOSITION SUPPORT.

The view that there had never been such unanimity between the Government and the Opposition as existed over this Bill was expressed by Mr Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton). He said that the Opposition was in agreement with most of the clauses, though one or two would be controversial. The sooner the Bill was placed on the Statute Book, and the machinery began to operate, the better for this country, he added, It would also help in the rehabilitation of many of the men now overseas. Mr Forbes (Opposition, Hurunui) said public opinion had now been awakened to the seriousness of the problem of erosion and there was no excuse for further delay. He was convinced that there would be strong support for any attempt to put control on a more satisfactory footing, and ne had heard no objections to the Bill m his district. Mr Forbes paid a tribute to the former Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, for his enthusiasm to do something to straighten out the very difficult problem of erosion.