Reduction In Catchment Board’s Subsidy

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31209, 5 November 1966, Page 16

Reduction In Catchment Board’s Subsidy

AU work, maintenance and development done by the North Canterbury Catchment Board during 1966-67 wiU have to be reduced, after a 10 per cent reduction in its allocated subsidy.

Mr R. M. D. Johnson, the chairman, said at the board meeting yesterday, that this reduction would cause considerable difficulty.

The original allocation of £lll,OOO, which included 10 per cent over-run, had now been reduced by 10 per cent, and was now considerably less than the level required. “We have now to try to trim our work down to this figure,” he said. “If we can keep down to it, it will rather be a matter of good luck—especially if there are any floods. “It affects all branches of our work and some of the work we have started we have had to taper off.” Lake Ellesmere The board received a request from Mr D. C. Anderson that Lake Ellesmere should be opened for the benefit of farmers before its level reached the required

height. It was decided that the ratepayers be met and after this the necessary steps be taken, and that the board approach the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council In Wellington to ascertain its attitude before meeting the ratepayers. The council would have to agree to provide a subsidy for opening the lake at lower than the agreed level. Mr O. R. Chamberlain said it was important for the farmers that they have access to the land. Conditions were dry and the lake had not yet reached the proper level, but the farmers needed the land. “The farmers are not accustomed to have the lake open at this time,” said Mr

W. W. Brough, the board’s secretary. “If we allow ourselves to be bulldozed into this, then others will want the same service when it suits them," said Mr F. L. Wright. A subcommittee comprising Messrs Johnson, H. E. Connor, A. T. Bell and Chamberlain will meet the applicants on November 10. The board received a letter from the Soil Conservation

and Rivers Control Council stating that stopbanking on Lake Ellesmere might be eligible for a £1 for £1 subsidy. But the council had decided, on the basis of priority, that it could not provide subsidies for this purpose for some years to come. Mr Johnson said the council, in lieu of granting a subsidy, had approved a grant of £l2OO which might be paid to Mr A. H. C. Nutt, the applicant for the stopbank subsidy, when the board could provide it from its allocation. “This grant is approximately equivalent to a £1 for £1 subsidy on the cost of his frontal bank,” said Mr Johnson.

“The council’s action in this case is in recognition of the value of Mr Nutt’s work as a pilot scheme, and the effect of the bank *and subsequent land development work is to be observed by board staff and reported later to the council.”

Mr Brough said the Council did not want to grant a straight £1 for £1 subsidy and so create a precedent. Hororata Bridge

The board approved a proposal to build a bridge on Cordy’s road at Hororata, about 100 yards from the Hororata Post Office. Mr Johnson and members of the board are to meet members of the Malvern County Council on November 7 to discuss the length of the bridge. On December 6, members of the Board will inspect the site of the proposed new alignment of banking above the crossbank on the south side of the Waimakariri river west of Harewood.

Approval was given to the replacement of the Dalbeg bridge in the Kowhai County. The existing three-span 72ft long timber bridge will be replaced by a two-span bridge of reinforced concrete.