CLASH OF INTERESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 99, 29 April 1938, Page 15

CLASH OF INTERESTS.

ROADS AND DRAINS

WARNING NOTE ISSUED

(Prom Our Own Correspondent.)

PAEROA, Wednesday

"Tt seems finite apparent." said the chairman of rue Hauraki United. Drainage Board, Mr. H. H. Hicks, in his annual report, "that certain section* of the roading authorities do not appreciate the value of the quick get-away of water from lands such as Haiiraki Plains, nor the necessity of maintaining the drains at their fullest capacity at flood times."

Mr. Hicks pointed out the grave danger to the board's drainage system should roading authorities be allowed to continue to install culvert pipes in place of bridges in the large outlet drains on which the Drainage Board had spent thousands of pounds in order to facilitate the free and quick flow of water from farm lands to the rivers. Culvert pipes reduced the flow of water and the capacity of drains, and the lo?s occasioned by any one flooding of farm land outweighed the cost of many bridges. Mr. Hicks al.so commented on the extensive slipping that, had occurred, particularly in the drains alongside loads. sThis was caused to some extent' by the vibration of heavy traffic on water-sodden countrr.