RIVER CONTROL SCHEMES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22252, 17 November 1937, Page 19

RIVER CONTROL SCHEMES

POLICY DISCUSSED BY CABINET

STATE DIRECTION OF WORK

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter]

WELLINGTON, November 16.

The problem of river control and flood protection in New Zealand was mentioned at some length by the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in the Public Works Statement tabled to-day. The Minister expressed the opinion that the time had now come when the State should assume the direction of the work to a much greater extent than it had in the past. The"position haa been under consideration by the Cabinet for some time, he added, and a comprehensive statement was being prepared. "Major works of river control and flood protection have to be largely justified on economic grounds," Mr Semple said. "Works of this class have been carried out in the past by the State and also by local authorities, the provision of finance generally being adjusted to the needs of each case. River maintenance and the prevention of deterioration of stream channels, and of destruction of valuable land, is a more difficult problem, in that existing legislation regards such work as largely a local responsibility.

"The time has arrived when the State should, to a much greater extent, assume the direction of this class of work. Work would be done in collaboration with a local authority, or with the settlers of the area affectedT and finance would have to be arranged to suit each particular case. One difficulty in this class of work is, the large number of small local authorities in any particular area dealing with river and drainage matters, and the question of merging these is one that must receive the serious attention of the Government.

Review by Cabinet

"The whole question of river control and river maintenance policy is now under review by the Cabinet. I can anticipate next year's Public Works Statement with the information that th; Government has just authorised tho immediate putting in hand of river improvement and willow removal works in the Waipa basin of the Waikato river, and in the Hoteo valley in Rodney County. Both these works are major ones, and the need for them has been apparent for some time. "The Ashley river control work \s one of the largest jobs in hand," the statement adds. "The work consists of a system of stop-banks and groynes extending from the junction of the Okuku to the sea, which is a distance of 12 miles. It will afford protection to a large area of rich agricultural land. The works were designed to cope with what was considered the largest flood likely to be encountered, but in February. 1936, during the progress of construction, a record flood was experienced, which made it appear advisable to construct the stcpbi.nks and groynes to higher levels. The work is now nearing completion. "An extensive survey and report was recently completed dealing with the Ashburton river, apd a similar one is In hand for the Hinds river. The one dealing with the Ashburton river has been made available to the Ashburton County Council."