RIVER EROSION IN SOUTH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 17

RIVER EROSION IN SOUTH

DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON HON. R. SEMPLE

A meeting representative of all sections of the population within the Geraldine County, called by the Temuka branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, discussed river, erosion at Temuka last evening, and decided on the action to be taken to fulfil immediate demands, and the need for a comprehensive survey as the basis for a possible national scheme^ Besides the farmers present, there were Messrs K. Mackenzie (chairman of the Geiraldine County Council), A. W. Buzan (Mayor of Temuka), T. G. Beck (irrigation engineer to the Public Works Department), and J. Hawcridge (engineer to the Geraldine County Council). “It is a very short-sighted idea that the land alongside the river which is being washed out to sea is not worth the cost .of protection,” said the chairman (Mr A. Johnson). Even though it was poor land immediately affected, good land was threatened, arid in time it would go through. Mr Buzan the domain at Temuka was threatened and patchwork carried out by the Borough Council had been of no avail.. It was “oneeyed” to say that, the poor land was not worth saving, because even the poorest soil would graze stock. The urgent need for systematic surveys was mentioned by Mr Beck, who said that, though some people seemed to think that surveys were unjustified, it was not so in South CanterburyThe engineer must have bench-marks to give him an indication of the vagaries in the courses of streams and the quantities of shingle moved. He urged the meeting favourably to view his suggestion that a thorough survey be made. The survey would take nine months or a year to make, but since the present .system had been going on for 60 years, there was no reason why it should not go for another year. A deputation was formed to wait on the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), and put before him the question of organised river control. , Its members are Messrs K. Mackenzie. A. Bisdee (Geraldine County River Board). A. Johnson, and T. Symes (Temuka branch of the Farmers’ Union), A. W. Buzan, and W. H. McMillan (Temuka Borough Council). The same deputation will discuss with the Geraldine County Council the proposal for a survey to be made, without which, it is understood, the Minister can give no assistance.