FLOOD DAMAGE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 67, 16 September 1925, Page 9

FLOOD DAMAGE

RECORD EXPENDITURE

RESERVE FUNDS NECESSARY

TO MEET LOCAL BODIES'

, NEEDS.

.^Eegre^ is .expressed /by the Minis-" ter of. Public •'Works v (the "Hon.-" J.-l G., Coates)' .in the; Public^Works^Statement at the: fact that flood" damage expenditure last/, year';.■ again constituted a record. In very many cases the cost: of restoration was, v quite beyond; the/ resources, of .:'the'^ local bodies, and the Goyjernment:was,appealed to ' for liberal assistance.' ;•.

''I; desire: to point out»in thig"eon- '■ heotion that,, the granting "oi\ Govern-: m'ent assistance; for reitoratioi""' offlooa ; damage is,very, closely/'.'cbiitrbll-: cd,:)' states y the ." Minister.;.,.',-Th*; Department's ever-increasing -expenr■ diture under flood daWge'might -111/ . dicate the;' development. of Ik ;;;. policy, whereby j all damage /due ;to 'toofy even; of ; a more ;or less trivial i nature,; is; subsidised*:' ;; This is:;;; by.: no\ means, the position. .■ ;Every application for Government .aid is "very carefully by'■: :jthe'. Pe-I partinent,:and before ariy.Bnbsidy: ii '■ approved, the local.'body's,ability-to meet the: cobt of restoration from its own Isn'anc'ial resourcps,. and. the','.q[n«ii-' tion'Whether or hot any or "ill of "the • damage can'/rightly^^ be .attributedT id;: iieglected; -maintenance,'' JU-ebnsi*derebV, ..design, faulty; constructed.work, .'Or., to .causes beyond "the Teasonable i:prcii'". vision of : they. local: authority,; ■• carefully,:gone into. ' ■'• \:fi::--:i'-'- ---■■'■ \ "The cost^of restoring this damage.: by: flood'.'-beingj-vkyery ';,c6niiiderable,' both to -thevlocal authoritiM: and''to J: the /Crown,; aeemg V to' ■. mdicate * 'that/ som^e better method •of )>flnanpe'.-'rliV called; .for. 1 % The. expenditrire be ■ a serioui drain: on the Goremmeat's. ftnancial reiourceij bnt"=ii Is crippling, on;. the local autab»itie».. I . nm of the opinion that the time hai now arrived when local; authqritieg Bhould be empowered, -and 1required .by legialationV to set up"reierve"finds to provide for auch exceptional, oe-: currenees. This proposal: is now'bei Ing investigated by departmental of-. fleers, and; it; is hoped that/-a/means may;: be eyc^vedy; whefebyj the / re-/ venno of, any one year, ."should ■;■; be relieved of the ;heayy/drain due tb;; those occurrences.'?/■ ■•••■': \ .'■■■ Commenting upon tKe damage done: to bridges,- the \ Minister';sa>s .that' at the .present:.stage, of,;/th4 development of the country it may ./pwre; more economical ,''tb'., put up i strnctures suitable: enough all ordinary, con-1 ditions, even at the riski of. a aimilai / Qccurrence, i than to pay interest on the larger sum necessary to / build above recorded flood risks. •' :■•■■■