Grey River Argus FRIDAY, January 13, 1928. THE RIVER EROSION PROBLEM.

Grey River Argus, 13 January 1928, Page 4

Grey River Argus FRIDAY, January 13, 1928. THE RIVER EROSION PROBLEM.

The resolution of the Westland Courtiy Council at last meeting that the Government be asked to make the problem of river erosion the subject of An inquiry by a Royal Commission is one of farreaching importance. From the existence of so many comparatively high mountain ranges, particularly in the South Island, there is no greater certainty about the Dominion’s future than that this problem will be lasting. It will take on even greater importance as time passes, with the increase of population and the necessity to conserve evefy acre of land available for agriculture or pasture. On the West Coast the menace of erosion is at least as serious as it is anywhere else in the country, and( while no locality is free from it, the land endangered is decidedly the best there is in the whole area westward of the main range. To ask that the Government should envisage this problem in its national dimensions is to ask no more than has lie«n done in oilier directions, such as afforestation, scientific research, and agricultural development. It is not simply a question, however, of socking for State expenditure, but what is required is a scientific study of

the situation, in the light of the measures of conservation taken in other countries where the question has been properly faced; ami the formulation of a comprehensive policy to cope with this great and indeed growing difficulty. In the case of the Buller River, the local bodies concerned have endeavoured to facilitate the inauguration of such a policy as has been suggested. It may be said that in every locality where riparian action is a feature of conditions prevailing, the erosion problem is a recurring one. It is. however, in its full dimensions entirely beyond the scope of local bodies to compass. While local variations in the conditions will call for particular remedies, it ought to be feasible for the Slate to devise certain precautions and expedients of general utility. In that event, the local bodies would be bettci' able to co-operate and dove tail their expenditure with that of the Goi’eriinieiit. Il is not merely for the immediate future that a. policy is desired, hut a scheme based on the long-time, outlook is called for. The Minister of Lands is shortly to visit the West Coast, and the opportunity at least of putting before him the ease for a national riparian policy should certainly be utilised by Ihe various local ini crests t hat arc concerned in the question of the widespread river erosion.