CATCHMENT BOARDS PROPOSAL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23319, 3 May 1941, Page 10

CATCHMENT BOARDS PROPOSAL

BILL IN DRAFT FORM “A problem closely allied, to river protection is that of land drainage, and I am pleased to be able to say that the Public Works Department has recently brought forward proposals, in the form of a draft bill, to be submitted to a select committee appointed by the House of Representatives,” said the president of the Woodend-Wai-kuku branch of the Farmers’ Union (Mr J. R. Keeper) at the annual meeting of the branch. Provision was made in this bill, Mr Keeper said, for the appointment of catchment boards to control catchment districts. The general functions of catchment boards would be to. construct, alter, repair, and maintain all works necessary for the control of water flowing towards and from water courses and the prevention of overflow where possible. Where it was not possible to prevent overflow the boards would be responsible for the reduction of damage in the areas affected.

All schemes of work Would be prepared by the boards and approved by the Minister for Public Works. Catchment boards would be elected by members of catchment districts and would ‘be empowered to exercise or perform all ,:tne>functidns of a drainage board or .river; bbard and might go beyond of their districts to peiform. their tasks. ,;

Swords Clnb., Season Opens.—A varied programme of foil, epee;and sabre displays > was . presented ati the club rooms, of the Christchurch Swords Club on the Occasion of the opening night of the. season!* Mr Hugh Cato, president of the club,. welcomed.; the Visitors, and formally- declared the season open. Sir Joseph Ward, club captain; exblaißed the various types of weapons and the rules of play governing their use, after which demonstration bouts in foil, epee, and sabre were given,' and one-point knock-out competitions : for men and women were held, r

Arrests Made.— I Two men were arrested yesterday by Detectives G. W. Alty and L. B. Harrowfield, while they were conducting investigations into recent reports of burglary. It is understood that a quantity of goods was seized when the arrests were made, and that the information gained is likely to throw light on a number of cases of burglary which have been reported to the police. It was stated last evening that the police are anxious to trace a suitcase which is believed to have been thrown into the river near Fitzgerald avenue. The suitcase was of green fiberkane and contained three. English tailored suits.