CATCHMENT BOARDS

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26129, 3 June 1950, Page 9

CATCHMENT BOARDS

Sir, —It appears that Mr Machin declines personally to inspect the Halswell river. Is he afraid of what he may find? If the report he quotes is true, will be explain why many miles of the Greenpark-Tai Tapu section are choked with weeds and why, in this abnormally dry period, the water is backing on to farms? The work “proceeding and following on” in the report was commenced at the time Mr Machin's last letter was printed and a weed-cutter used has Inin idle for the last three years. Mr Machin takes a lot for granted when he states that the Springs County Council is happy with its contract. I should like a further explanation of his reference to sour people in my district. I know only of honest, hard-working men and women who expect value for the rates they pay.—Yours, etc., E. J. STALKER.

Greenpark. May 29, 1950. [The questions raised are covered in a news report in this issue.—Ed., “The Press.”]

Sir, —As a river-side resident for the last 11 years my considered opinion concerning the state of the Haiswell river in the Tai Tapu-Greenpark area is that Mr E. J. Stalker’s account of the Catchment Board s neglect oi this

area is correct and Mr Machin’s account is incorrect. During my residence in this district the banxs and bed of the Haiswell river in the Tai Tapu area have never been in such bad condition as they are now. They have been in a similar state during the last three years. The banks arc badly overgrown and the bed choked with weed, the width of the river in some places approaching half its normal width. Consequently, the river level bounding my property is at least 18 inches higher than usual. Something should be done about it and done at once.—Yours, etc., RIVERSIDE. May 29, 1950.