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(iv) Rivers Control The principal difficulty arises from the fact that rivers in building up flats have a tendency to flow in one channel for a period of years, then, when that channel is higher than the surrounding flats, to break into another channel and build that up. In such a manner over a period of hundreds of years, perhaps, they work back and forward across great areas. They do not show any consideration for the farmer who has to maintain fences, pastures, and buildings. He cannot move with the river. It is realized, therefore, that rivers control must be undertaken to save the farm lands along the river-banks. Even with such control, it must always be appreciated that the need for control work will be perpetual, owing to the necessity to maintain the river in a set course free from obstructions. This work of confining a river to a set course is known as rivers control, and we are of the opinion that it is necessary and should be continued, although administered in proper perspective. We see no reason for a national coverage of rivers-control authorities. It appears to us that the work can be handled satisfactorily by the counties in conjunction with the Ministry of Works, except in areas such as — (1) Lower Clutha basin (Otago); (2) Canterbury Plains (from the Waitaki to the Ashley); (3) Lower Manawatu basin (below the Manawatu Gorge); (4) Hawkes Bay (the Tutaekuri and the Ngaruroro); and (5) The Poverty Bay-East Coast area. (v) Soil Conservation It is when we come to soil conservation as distinct from rivers control that we cannot share the opinions of the Soil Conservation Council. The whole sheep industry is most apprehensive of the position that has developed. The high-country pastoralist is seriously alarmed at what he views as a threat to his very existence. The principal Departments of State controlling land and agriculture are also perturbed to think that sweeping authority in regard to land utilization should ever pass into the hands of local organizations. We can say unhesitatingly that we share the general fears. Where a small secretariat to the Soil Conservation Council might have performed good work through established agencies of the Lands and Works Departments, on lines of farming policy laid down by the Department of Agriculture, there has arisen a mushroom growth of Catchment Boards which has developed into a veritable empire within our shores claiming powers far exceeding those ever claimed by the Crown itself. It has been suggested that the Catchment Boards will have large technical staffs which we consider would be a duplication of the services of existing Departments. It was also suggested that the Catchment Boards wished to take over some of the high-country lands for soil-conservation purposes. At the same time we were told that Catchment Boards would tell the pastoralist what he would be allowed to do, but would pay no compensation if it affected the landholders' living. If present trends are allowed to continue there will result an unjustifiable multiplication of authorities and a duplication of staff and plant. There must be only one Government in New Zealand acting through its established official agencies, the Lands Department for land administration, and the Department of Agriculture for farming technique, with the Ministry of Works as engineers. We cannot envisage anything about soil conservation that these agencies cannot do. We repeat,