"Catchment Boards Have & Will Continue"

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22942, 10 May 1949, Page 4

"Catchment Boards Have & Will Continue"

Justifying Existence . . .

“Two years ago the Government sanctioned the formation of more catchment boards. What we would like and what would be the greatest encouragement would be official public confirmation of this policy.” “There can be no doubt that people generally consider that catchment boards have justified 'their existence and are likely to continue to do so.”

These extracts from the report of the president of the New Zealand Catchment Board's Association, Mr. William Machin, to the recent annual conference of the association in Napier were quoted to yesterday's meeting of the Gisborne Rotary Club by Mr. R. C. Murphy, a member of the P.B. Catchment Board, in order to give a better understanding of the vital work of the boards. Five years ago there were no catchment boards in New Zealand. Today there were 12 active boards covering 60 per cent, of the total area of the Dominion. Three further boards were projected and, when approved, the coverage would be nearly 70 per cent, of New Zealand soil, according to the report. In 1944 the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council gave catchment board Aiembers their charter, which Mr. Machin described as “a great conception and a great responsibility.” It placed upon them the guardianship of the fertility of the soil and defined their work as in association with and under the direction of the council to assume full responsibility within each district for all work to prevent and mitigate soil erosion and damage by flood and promote soil conservation. “I think there are few precedents in local body history for such rapid and efficient growth in organisation and function in peacetime as catchment boards have shown. This is due to the quality and enthusiasm of members and assistance received,” considered Mr. Machin.

Referring to the fact that they were reinforced by chief local officers of five large Government departments whose duty was to give valuable trained help, Mr. Machin thought the new “set up” for local authority a happy inspiration. There had been some criticism of that fact that these members were appointed and not elected and this appeared to him to be more theoretical than real as they never comprised more than 30 per cent, of the membership of a board. Issues Clearer “Today we know our mission in detail better than we knew it five years ago,” said Mr. Machin. “It is firstly to start and continue patiently over shorter and longer periods research into the best means'of replacement of the lost and diminishing cover of our highlands, our watersheds, and refresh and sustain them always at high fertile levels.

“This will take long years of observation, meticulous recordings, continuity of administration and the capable analysis and investigation of most suitable remedies. There should not be haste; there must be rest and there must be vision.

“Since we cannot control the rainfall in its volume and periods, we must organise to deal with its vagaries—-its consequent floods and droughts, its sour swamps and weakening undercurrents. We are not only soil conservators, but water conservators.

“In administration and organisation our boards and staff must be trained to balance costs against results, to divide the reasonable cost of all work between the national, local and purse of the individual occupier whose land will benefit. We must study to use our great powers fairly and without tyranny, and our relationships with citizens and other bodies must command confidence and goodwill. “Teething Troubles” Dealing with difficulties boards had faced which he described as “teething troubles,” Mr. Machin said: “I do not think that we need be unduly troubled if we are careful about these matters. They arise mainly from the disturbed economy of the present time. They are, however, rather disappointing to us and encouraging to those who would cripple our policy and work. But our short good record must be the dominating factor and I am sure the public generally would not lightly see the work stultified.” Farmers and local authorites were working increasingly with boards. Ratepayers were willingly finding the administration rate, which was small to the individual. Occupiers of land were pressing more work than could be found men and machines for and were willing to pay for the benefits the work gave them.

Mr. Machin paid a tribute to local encouragement as well as to that given in national spheres.

“I regard this catchment board movement as one of the most valuable and most statesmen-like institutions I have ever tried to assist. I know it will grow and become a mighty power in the conservation of our most precious assets —soil and water,” he declared. Mr. Murphy, who was accompanied by the secretary of the board, Mr. A. G. Hicks, was accorded a vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr. J. Benson, who presided.