Aid For Rangitaiki

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29842, 7 June 1962, Page 12

Aid For Rangitaiki

(New Zealand Press Association)

ROTORUA. June 6. After inspecting the flooded Rangitaiki plains today, the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) said the Ministry of Works would give all the assistance it could to close the breaches in the Rangitaiki and Tarawera river stopbanks. He said once this emergency was overcome, he would consider what assistance could be given to floodstricken farmers, the Eastern Bay of Plenty Catchment Commission, and the Whakatane County Council. Mr Goosman, who left a National Party caucus this morning with Mr P. B. Allen, member of Parliament for Bay of Plenty, described the flooding as "as bad as I have ever seen.” Mr C. W. J. Parsons. District Commissioner of Works, Hamilton, who toured tyith the Minister, said the Rangitaiki breach would be repaired in several days, but the

breach in the Tarawera would take several weeks. The situation in the flooded Rangitaiki plain was a very serious one, and could quite possibly be repeated, said Mr Goosman this morning, addressing a hastily-convened meeting held in the board room of the Rangitaiki Dairy Company, at Edgecumbe. While the meeting was in progress, heavy rain was falling on the plain, and several new danger spots have appeared along both the Rangitaiki and Tarawera rivers Hardly any water is leaving the mouth of the Tarawera. as it is escaping through the outlet of the 109 canal, a mile or so away from the river mouth. Water is flowing dbwn the canal at the rate of 2000 cusecs.

Further up stream the intake to the Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill factory at Kawerau is also being affected and unless the situation improves production may be affected Mr Goosman arrived by air at Tauranga this morning Because of flooding on the aerodrome he was unable to leave by air. and instead travelled by car to Hamilton, where he hoped to catch a south-bound plane for Wellington tonight. Tauranga Flood About a dozen business premises in Tauranga were flooded when torrential rain severely overtaxed stormwater drains early this afternoon, and caused flooding on the Strand between Wharf street and Spring street. Shoppers removed their footwear in order to negotiate the floodwater, which reached half way up the hubcaps of parked cars, and. in places, completely covered the road and footpaths.