CHRISTCHURCH IN DANGER?

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 49, 26 August 1926, Page 8

CHRISTCHURCH IN DANGER?

Emphasising that he did not wish to appear to be an alarmist, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G-. Coates.) ventured the opinion in the House of Kepresentatives yesterday that there was a danger of the City of Christchurch being menaced by a serious flood if the Waimakariri River changed ita course. The river, he said, had formerly run south of the city, but now its course was to the northward. History lad a habit of repeating itself so far as rivers were concerned, and he thought that unless protective measures were taken, promptly a sudden flood might cause the river to shange its course and bring about more serious damage in Christchurch than the inhabitants of the Cathedral City would care to remember. Mr. Coates suggested that Christehurch members of Parliament should try to arrange with the Minister of Defence to make an aerial inspection of the river, as ho himself had done over its whole course, in order that they might see for themselves the serious element of danger that existed. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon): "Will you give us that opportunity?" Amidst laughter, Mr. Coates said he did not suggest that the Opposition should have anything but the safest aeroplane in which to mako the survey. :

Later in the discussion, Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) said ho would not mind making the trip, but he would refuse to travel with the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Williams), as he carried too much weight. (Laughter.)