INTRICATE TASKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21697, 26 April 1945, Page 4

INTRICATE TASKS

NEW CATCHMENT BOARD CLASSIFICATION OF LAND USE OF EXISTING WORKS Organisation of work in the Poverty Bav Catchment Board’s district, in furtherance of the soil conservation and flood control policy, will have to take account of private efforts to limit flooding in the past and incorporate all useful existing works in the general plan of control for the district.This was pointed out on Tuesday by the engineer-in-chief, Works Departmerit; Mr. W: L. Newnham. chair- 1 man of the Soil Conservation Council, in reply to questions bearing upon the existence of flood-banks in the neighbourhood of the Waipaoa River. The members had already heard Mr J. Callesen, a member of the council, warn them against the dangers of banking floodable rivers. Later Mr. Newnham informed them that the board had full power under the soil conservation regulations to control private banking, and to remove those which were considered to be an obstruction to the natural course of river waters. .Furthermore, any person or persons wishing to erect a stop-bank must first secure permission from the board.

“If you can use an existing bank, by all means do so.” he said. “I am afraid, however, that you will not find many that will prove useful to your board. . If . you ....allow,;, any , existing banks to remain,.make sure that they will not cause obstructions.” •Mr. Newnham added'thM the question of. compensation might enter into any proposals to erect or remove banks affecting the property of an individual farmer. Hikuwai Settlers’ Request

A Waiapu member, Mr. P. W. Barratt. brought forward an invitation on the part of Hikuwai Valley settlers, in the southern part of his county, to visit the valley and inspect the river-course with a view to aiding them in getting willow-growth re* moved from the bed. Mr. Barrati said that he was not familiar with the valley, nor with their problem, since in his own part of the county it was a case of “plant or get out.” The Hikuwai problem served to indicate the intricate nature of the board’s work. Mr. Newnham replied that a survey of the river had been made and a grant had been offered by the Works Department for clearing the willows, but the grant had not been taken up. Another complication was raised by Mr. H. J. F. Tombleson, who stated that any afforestation scheme adopted by the board might toe ruined by opossums, which were becoming more numerous every season. Mr. Newnham replied that possibly an amendment of the Animals Protection and Games Act, 1922, might be necessary before local authorities could secure the desired free hand against opossums. Forest Nursery Service Replying to Mr. R. Graham, Mr. Newnham stated that the re-estab-lishment of the Forestry Service nurseries at Rotorua, whence farmers of this, district formerly were able to secure good young trees, was a matter for the Forestry Service itself. His council would, support any steps taken to ensure a ready supply of well-grown trees for re-afforestation. “If the catchment board will submit proposals of a definite character. I am sure the council will favourably consider helping in the establishment of parent stocks of willows in areas now lacking such stocks,” said Mr. Newn-ham-in reply to Mr. G. M. Newman. The latter had pointed out that! in his area of the Waikohu County willowplanting in the gullies was a. necessary step in controlling erosion* and that saplings for this work had to be brought from considerable distances. If parent stocks were established at suitable points, settlers would coooerate with the board in planting their gullies. Tlie classification, of lands for rating purposes was raised by Mr. D. W. W. Williams, and Mr. Newnham pointed out that the only rate which would necessarily be uniform over all parts of a catchment district would be the administrative charge. Rates for other purposes would .be struck oil a graduated scale, according to the degree of benefit given areas were to ‘receive from the works to be'financed.