MINISTER VIEWS FLOOD-STRICKEN WAIROA AREAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22655, 4 June 1948, Page 6

MINISTER VIEWS FLOOD-STRICKEN WAIROA AREAS

(S.R.) WAIROA, June 4. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. E. L. Cullen, had an exceptionally busy day in Wairoa yesterday. After receiving private and local-body deputations he made a tour of inspection of flood damage in portions of the country.

Visits were made to a FraseiTown metal pit which was severely damaged by the flood and also to a farm where it is estimated three acres disappeared into the river The Minister also viewed other flooded areas. Later he went to Awnmate where he inspected a property where, out of SO acres, only 10 are now usable for pio duction and the owners are unable to milk a herd of TO dairy cows due to lack of feed Those animals are at present being cared for by neighbouring farmers.

In the area of the Hurumua Maori Returned Soldiers training scheme, he viewed many acres of land no-.v under silt, It was hard to visualise the picture ot only a few months ago when a portion of this area produced tomatoes to the value of over £I2OO. Today it is apparently useless. Acres Under Silt Asparagus beds at Hurumua were also viewed by the Minister. These were expected to produce this season for the first time but are now under river silt to a depth of up to 18in. During the visit of the Minister to the Ruamotu settlement, the county chairman, Mr. A. T. Carroll, the engineer, Mr. R. W. Hawthorne and Mr. A. L. McKinnon, president of the Federated Farmers, detailed plans for establishing a second route to link up with the lake road which would prove valuable in times of emergency. The speakers pointed out that had the Frasertown Bridge ’carried away during the flood all the residents at Tuai, Kaitawa and on tire lake road would have been isolated. With the provision of a short bridge across the Tutaekuri River an emergency road could then be provided and link up with the main highway approximately 14 miles from Wairoa. The Minister said he would take the suggestion up with the Minister of Works and see what could be done. Mr. Cullen received a deputation from the Wairoa Aero Club. The deputation asked for the assistance of the Minister in having a landing field established. The club was supported by Mr. Carroll and the mayor, Mr. C. V. Chamberlain. .Mr. Cullen said he would be very pleased to associate with Mr. C. G. Elarker, the member of Parliament for the district and approach the Minister of Works with a view to having the work placed high up on the priority list for the establishment of aerodromes.