RIVER CONTROL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 228, 9 July 1941, Page 4

RIVER CONTROL.

COMPLETION ASKED FOR. REPRESENTATION'S TO MINISTER. Asking the Government to reconsider its decision regarding the amount of extra subsidy required before the Ashburton River control work is completed, members of the Ashburton County Council and three settlers concerned in the upper reaches of the river waited on the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) yesterday afternoon. The County Chairman (Mr S. P. Taylor) presided. it was pointed out that many settlors were paying a rate for benefits they had not received.

The County’s case was sot out in the following statement: — “The Council regrets very much that the Government has declined to carry on the work of the Ashburton river control scheme, except on the basis of a subsidy of £2 or £l, and desires to take this opportunity of appealing for more sympathetic consideration. “As you aware, the original terms were a subsidy £5500 from the Council, and it must be admitted that a request for ah increase from £5500 to £14,500 is rather staggering, and places the Council in a difficult position. We told the ratepayers that their contribution would be £5500, and wo raised a loan accordingly. Half the work was done, property on the lower reaches was protected, and then wc were asked for another £9OOO. “The farmers in the upper area where no benefit lias been received are required to pay special rates, ancl arc protesting vigorously. If we raise another £9OOO the farmers of the lower regions, who are safe, will also be entitled to protest vigorously. The Council feels pledged to have the work completed and in the interests of the farmers concerned it earnestly appeals to the Government to carry out its part of the bargain and on more favourable terms than have been offered.” Messrs F. G. EVans, M. S. Turton and J. Rooney supplemented the plea of the Council for reconsideration of the Government’s decision. The Minister said lie could not hold out any hope of a larger Government subsidy being offered to the Council. River control problems everywhere had cost more than had been estimated. No other district had been offered a subsidy anywhere so liberal as that given to the Ashburton Council. Ashburton was one of the wealthiest in the Dominion. Other places were very pleased with £1 for £l. Ho did not think it would be fair to ask Cabinet for more money, and he did not think and it would grant any if he did.