WAIMAKARIRI RIVER TRUST.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18677, 28 April 1926, Page 11

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER TRUST.

TO THE IDITOB OT "THE PRXSS. Sir. —In view of the expressed intention of the Trust to proceed with some plans for protective works on the Waimakariri river, it would not.bo out of place to discuss some matters of vital importance to the ratepayers concerned, and particularly tboso whose interests lie m the City of Christcburch. At. present the 'irust Hoard cousists of cigut members, four beiny elected by the ratepayers ou tLe south side of the river, two bv the ratepayers on th« north side, and two being appointed by the Government, the chairman being also appoimc-i by the Government. Seeing .that •jo City of Christcburch has to find two-thirds of the moucy required by tho Tru«t, whether in the shape of rates or loan moneys, it is surprising, to find that the City haa no direct representation on tho Trust Board. Surely the City members of Parliament must have been caught napping when the Special Act was passed in 1922 constituting the Board on such an inequitablo and undemocratic basis. Tbe old South Waimakariri Hirer Board consisted of nine members, four of whom were elected by the City ratepayers, one by the Borough of Sydenham, and four others elected by the remainder of the area. ■ Tho constitution of the Trust differs' 60 much from that of any other River Board that I venture to suggest that before tbe Trust .proceeds any further in its work

it should promote legislation to change the constitution of the Board by providing for the direct representation of the City of Christehureh. Having regard to the financial responsibility of tho City in the matter, five or even sis members would not b* unreasonable. This principle is recognised in connexion with other Boards comprising City and country representatives. The City has four representatives on the Lyttolton Harbour Board and seven on the Hospital Board. If the Trust Board is to continue as at present constituted, one can conceive a position arising involving a conflict between northern aud southern interests, with the chairman and Government nominee supporting the former, in which . the chairman's casting vote would bo the deciding factor. As the Government has no financial responsibility in the matter, it seems hardly democratic that it should have taken to itself, through appointing two members of the Trust Board, the powers of controlling and settling the .affairs of the Trust. Another matter to which I desire to refer is the financial aspect of the proposals recently submitted to the ratepayers. As tho chairman and members of the Trust Board have pinned their faith to the scheme prepared by their consulting engineer, it. seems likely that they will endeavour to carry it out in some form in the future. It will bo remembered that the Trust proposed to borrow £200,000, made up as follows: —

(a) Stabilising the mouth of the River .. .. 5,000 (b) Pilot and Diversion Chan- . nels .. .. • .. 8,900 (c) Levees . , .. 42,600 (d) Groynes .. .. 25,800 (e) Improvements to Hailway ' Bridge .. ' .. 4,000 (f) Main Highway Bridge .. 25,30.0 (g) Land and .Compensation .. 61,700 (h) Floodgates, planting,. new roads, foreshores, etc. .. 7,'500 (i) Contingencies 10 per cent. .. ; 19,200 £200,000 It will bo seen that of the abovo items two involve £87,000 (£61,700 for the purchase of land for the new cut to alter ,the course, of the river, and £25,300 for tho erection of a new bridge). To these should.be added' gay A 8000 for contingency, making a total of £95,000. The Highways Board has promised £.10,000 towards the-cost of the , bridge, leaving £ 85,000 to be provided by the Trust. It is. claimed and admitted by some experts that that part of the scheme providing for straightening and shortening .the course of the river is on sound lines. This being so, seeing that this part of the. scheme is of a permanent character, it is a fit eubject for a loan. If the course of, the river is straightened by means of; the new cut, involving, the acquisition of 1500 acres of land, it is expected. that the land forming the present bed of. the river north and south of White's Bridge will be reclaimed, forming a valuable addition to thp Trust's reserves. The construction of the bridge, is clearly a proper matter for a loan. To meet the Trust's share of the cost of the bridge) and the land' for the new cut, it would, not be unreasonable to ask the ratepayers to, sanction a loan of £85,000/ With: interest at £o| per

cent., and sinking fund J per cent., the annual charges would be £5312 10s per annum. If provisipn were, made for taking advantages nf any fall in the rate of interest in the future, tin annual charges would be reduced accordingly. At thei present.time,the income of +' ust from rents, etc , is £-4180. The- deputy chairman stated recently that the rents would be increased by over £IOOO a year so, the Trust's income from that source' will be sufficient to meet the annual charges for interest and sinking fund on a loan of £85,000, if raised, as suggested. A* .to the other items in the Trust's proposals, involving an expenditure of £105.000, as follows: — ■ ..." ' £ Stabilising.works , ... .5,000 Pilot and diversion channels ... 8,900 Levees , ... 42,600 Groynes ... ... 25,800 Improvement to . railway bridge 4000 floodgates, new roads, etc. .... ... 7,500 J Contingencies (say) ... ... 11,200 j £105,000 |

The Government has promised a grant of £20,000 towards the cost, and possibly the Railway Department nmy help as well,' which"will reduce the cost of . this portion of the work, to £85,000 or less.

During the past two year's the Trust has levied £21,000 a. year by wav of rates. This money has been used in' redeeming a debenture of £oOCO owing by the South Waimakariri River Board in constructing stop-banks, » groynes, etc.., mostly on £ITe north side of the river. The works proposed to be constructed by the' Trust, and paid for with loan moneys are of the saipe character. Opinions differ a? to whethey they will be permanently effective for tne purpose intended. The chairman and engineer of the Trust are confident they will be' so. but other experts, are doubtful. This being so, it j must be recognised that this part of the scheme is more or less experimental. The members of the Trust stated most emphatically.. during the recent campaign, that if the loan was sanctioned, and the work proceeded with, it would take five years to carry out the scheme, and that during that period no money would be required for maintenance. The deputy-chairman said that it was intended to accumulate the present rentals for five years, so- as to have a nest egg for the future. Why tins should be necessary if the Trust's scheme is as sound as it is claimed to irr° ne can . hardly understand. ' question may. be asked, how is the cost of the groynes, stop-banks, etc., to be met if not bv loan? llv reply would be, by a rate of £17.000 per annum for the next-five years. The ratepayers are now paying £21,000 per annum for the same kind of work.- It is experimental, and if it proves to be a failure the community will have paid for the experiment, instead of having f pay interest, etc., for a period of nfty years (50). as proposed-by the lrust. If the suggestion "made is adojjt-

Ed, the cost to tbe ratepayers will be £BO,OOO instead of £265,0C0 'if • the Trust's plan is carried out. The rates required would be £4OOO a year less 2? hitherto levied by the Trust. The plan proposed is somewhat similar to that followed by the South Waimakariri hiver Board during its existence, and coul<t with advantage to all concerned be adopted by tho Trust.— Yours, etc., _ . , J. A. FLESHER. Christehurch, April 27th, 1926.