RIVER CONTROL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 187, 22 May 1941, Page 6

RIVER CONTROL.

NO LEGISLATION PREPARED. EXPLANATION BY MINISTER. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 21. The existence of proposed logis!action dealing with river control ancl erosion was denied by the Minister lor Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) in an interview this evening. He said that judging by communications he had received from a number of local bodies, there appeared to an impression that the Government had a bill dealing with this question, but that was not so.

Mr Armstrong said that all the Gov u ernment had decided to do was to have an investigation made into the whole question of river control from the point of view of damage caused by flooding and erosion. A select committee of the House of Representatives, which was known as the River Control Committee, had been appointed for this purpose. The committee had just started its investigations, having held its initial meeting only. It was to mdet again next Tuesday to hear representations from local bodies.

As a basis for the investigation, the Public Works, Department had drafted tentative proposals, but to suggest that legislation had been prepared by the Government was quite incorrect. The /Government itself had not had an opportunity to consider these proposals formulated by the department, but would do so after the committee had ascertained the views of the people most vitally affected. The committee might approve or amend the department’s proposals, or it might recommend something quite different. The Minister said he realised that many local bodies had not been in a position to give a considered view sooner because of the local elections, for members of an outgoing local body would naturally wish to leave a question of policy to their successors.