TOTARA FLAT MENACE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1924, Page 2

TOTARA FLAT MENACE

AN ADAMANT DEPARTMENT

No further information has been received from the Minister of Public Works regarding his attitude on the question of repairing the deteriorated groynes in the Grey River at Total a. Flat As these threaten to cause havoc in the whole of the district in the 'event of a flood, the Urey County Council made an urgent request for repairs, but the Minister replied (his letter was recently published in the ‘'Star”) stating that as only freehold property was affected, he could not see hijs way to help the settlers in this matter. . ~ “That is not in accord with tacts, said Cr. D. Baybutt, when. the letter was read at td-day’s meeting of the Grey Countv Council. “The groynes were erected years ago to agord protection, not to private property, but to the main road and railway, -the groynes were erected by the Grey County Council with Government assistance. We are not asking for the protection of private property, The road affected is now a main highway.” • The County Clerk (Mr Keating) said the Council had made a further application for a £ for £ subsidy to .carry out the work. No reply had been received. . “Do you know what the attitude of the District Engineer is on the matter?” asked CT. J. Ryall. “Evidently what, is stated in the Minister’s letter—that it is only private property that is affected,” replied the Clerk. “It is the railway and the road first,” said Cr. Baybutt, “and the district as a whole secondly.” He_added that the matter would be dealt with by a meeting of residents at Totara Flat on Saturday, when the question of supporting the Council’s application would be discussed and a petition to that effect, strongly urging the Minister to reconsider his attitude, wulh mitted and presented later to the Minister..