WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18678, 29 April 1926, Page 11

WAIMAKARIRI RIVER.

TO THIS EDITOR OT "THE TRESS." Six, —Optimists would have us believe that tlic world, particularly from a humanitarian standpoint, steadily advances. If they read your leading article in this morning's issue of "The Press'' they would have to en-ept thoso who ajre responsible for its views, for for sheer selfishness and callousness of sentiment, this particular leader would be hard to beat. Apparently the unfortunate dwellers on the Eyre river and the north bank of the Waimnkariri go hang, provided no one in Christcburcb suffers. It is a thousand pities that the subscribers to these sentiments cannot spend .1 winter or two in some of the old cottages situated in the Kaiapoi flood area, or feel the pinch that many a sufferer on the pastoral lands lias experienced. You speak of the revenue- from endowments soing into the common fuud for the protection of both banks. Seeing that, I as you probably know, they were origj inally intended for that purpose, one may well ask, Why not? Are homes and lives of more importance to city dwellers than to country ones? By your own showing, works for many years were carried on by the old River Board solely for the protection of the south side of the river, and thereby, as many contend, causing more trouble on the north, and yet wheu the Trust comes into existence to secure fair play for all, you accuse it of the "calculated policy of throwing the risk back to the southern bank"! Rather liko Satan reproving sin, surely 1' I notice, also, Sir, that by the operations of this same Trust (vide your leader), Christehurch lias seen the "absolute protection hitherto enjoyed by it vanish." I.f that is so, why the increasing iteration during the past few weeks that Christehurch is in no danger from flood? Even the wizarding of "The Press" will find difficulty in making the two statements compatible, I think. No, Sir, give your support to some scheme that will benefit both south and north, and yon will be doing the whole community a service—not to one section of it only. —I am, etc., - M. .NEWTON. [We have never said that Christehurch is "in no danger from flood," although we did protest against the Trust's repeated declarations tha.t the danger was "imminent." We wish for some scheme which will protect the country on both sides of the river, but we think also that the .existing state of the financial responsibilities and of the representation of the districts are un- j fair.—Ed. "The.Press."] I