FLOOD PROTECTION

Evening Star, Issue 20961, 27 November 1931, Page 10

FLOOD PROTECTION

| WORK OH THE LEITH IMMEDIATE START TO BE MADE DIFFICULTIES SATISFACTORILY SETTLED The Harbour Board last; night decided to proceed at once with the work of Leith flood protection in accordance with the modified plan proposed by the commission of engineers. To the meeting of the board last night the Standing Committee reported:—“The committee has noted the various correspondence relative to the matter of empowering legislation in this connection, and has further noted the fact that, as the result of interviews in Wellington by the special subcommittee dealing with this matter, all objections have now been removed, and assurances obtained from the Prime Minister, the Minister in Charge of Unemployment, the Ministers of Finance and Marine, that they would facilitate the passage of the local Bill during the emergency session of Parliament. A draft of this Bill will be submitted to the hoard for approval.” The Chairman (Mr J. Loudon) said it seemed that they had come to a dead end in the matter. A meeting of the Emergency Committee was called, and ■he was asked to get into touch with the Hon. 'Mr Downie Stewart, who arranged an interview in Wellington for them with the Ministers concerned. He was pleased to be able to say that all the difficulties had now been removed. ■lt had been a wonderfully successful meeting with the Ministers in Wellington, and he thought they could now go safely ahead with the work. The whole question had been satisfactorily settled. They had had an amending Bill prepared by their solicitor, Mr Stephens, which would come before the emergency session of Parliament. Tire most important clause was that dealing with loan moneys, providing for validating the payment of moneys between the present time and the date of the passing of the Bill in Parliament. The Ministers interviewed had promised that they would help the hoard in this matter, and therefore the board need have no hesitation in going on with the work. Messrs Williams and Wilkie had come to a complete understanding with the city engineer as to the modified scheme, which set out that 14,000 cubic feet per second need not be provided- for right ' away. If in the future it was necessary to enlarge the canal for 14,000 cubic feet per second, > as proposed by the commission, that could be done. He did not think there was any point now that was likely to give any trouble, particularly in view of the promises received from the Ministers that they would facilitate the passage of the Bill. He wished to thank Mr Downie Stewart for arranging interviews with Ministers in Wellington. Mr J. W. Mnnro had also assisted the deputation from Dunedin. In connection with the widening of the canal it was necessary to take a piece of land from the Education Board, which had agreed to give the' strip required free. The Harbour Board was to be congratulated on getting the whole matter finally sottlech and "he hoped the work, would now be® proceeded witE. Mr Dickson said that when they met Mr Stewart they expressed a wish to go on with the work. They said that auy expenditure out of revenue could be repaid to them when the Bill was put through Parliament. A clause oonld be inserted providing that any money expended out of revenue would be repaid to the board out of loan money after the Bill was passed. At present they could not take any of the £350,000 loan for this purpose. The hoard would have to take the responsibility of advancing that money with the understanding that the Bill would ho passed. He thought it just as well that, before starting the work, they should have the amending Bill sent to Mr Godfrey (Secretary for Marine), who_ would he the one to raise any possible objections, and get his approval. They were anxious to get on with the work. He noticed that the City Council was having difficulty in finding work for the unemployed. In this job there .was handy and necessary work. Mr Molier said the matter was a most impor'ant one as far as the board was concerned. They thought they were up against a dead end, and they could congratulate the chairman on his foresight and the way he had handled the job, together with the other members concerned. Captain M'Donald said he thought the board ought to take the responsibility of carrying on with the work right away. It would give employment to a number of men. In answer to Mr Anderson, the Chairman said that when the work was put in hand as many as possible of the hoard's employees whose services had been dispensed with would be re-engaged. He had seen Mr Lightfoot, of the Department of Labour, who was willing to co-operate with the board as far as possible. The Chairman moved—“ In the absence of all departmental objections and relying on the assurances of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Marine, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour, and the Minister in Charge of Unemployment, that the amending Bill will be given effect to, the board resolves to proceed at once with the work of Leith flood protection in accordance with the modified plan proposed by Messrs Williams and Wilkie and the city engineer.” In reply to Mr Dickson, the Chairman said that he had interviewed the Secretary of Marine, and he thought Mr Godfrey would not raise any difficulty. Captain M'Donald _ seconded the chairman’s motion, which was carried unanimously. It was decided to place on record the board’s thanks to the Hon. W. Downie Stewart and Mr J. W. Munro for their assistance to the deputation. The Standing Committee also asked and was granted approval of its letter to the Education Board advising that in connection with the proposed works it would be necessary to encroach 10ft (approx.) on the Education Board school area on the northern side of the canal.