Wanganui Division Council Seeking More Compensation

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30528, 25 August 1964, Page 3

Wanganui Division Council Seeking More Compensation

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 24. The Taumarunui Borough Council is not satisfied with the minimum flow of 250 cusecs at Piriaka on the Wanganui river promised by the Electricity Department.

The council is also not satisfied with the decision not to pay compensation till the low level flow of 350 cusecs was reached, it told the Minister of Electricity (Mr Shand) in a letter recently. The council has been negotiating with the department for some time on the proposed Tongariro power development scheme. It has strongly opposed the proposal to reduce the river flow below 540 cusecs. But the council has accepted the department’s offer to pay £5 per cusec per day when the flow of water at Piriaka —which is the most suitable point to carry out gaugings—falls below 350 cusecs.

The council has requested a payment of £2O per cusec per day if the flow is reduced below 250 cusecs. Though an assurance that it would not drop below 250 cusecs was given by the department, the council said it requested the payment to ensure that it would not occur, except in times of dire emergencies. The council said it was also disappointed at the Government’s “harsh” attitude in not providing sufficient funds by way of compensation to develop other amenities to replace those which it was withdrawing for the national benefit.