RIVER EROSION EVIL

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1941, Page 5

RIVER EROSION EVIL

No Bill Prepared

HON. H. T. ARMSTRONG EXPLAINS POSITION.

WELLINGTON, May 21.

The existence of any proposed legislation for dealing with river control and erosion was denied by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. H. T. Armstrong), in an interview this evening. He said that, judging by communications which he had re ceived from a number of local bodies, there appeared to be an impression that the Government had a Bill dealng with this question, but that was not so. ' -

Mr Armstrong said that ail that the Government had decided to do was to have an investigation made into the whole question of river control from the point of view of the damage caused by flooding and erosion.

A Select Committee of the House of Representatives, which was known as the River Control Committee, had been appointed for this purpose. The Committee had just started its investigations, having held its initial meeting only. It was to meet again next Tuesday to hear representations from local bodies. As a basis for an investigation, the Public Works Department had drafted tentative proposals, but to suggest that legislation had been prepared by the Government was quite incorrect. The Government itself had not had an opportunity to consider these proposals formulated by the Department, but it would do so after the Committee had ascertained the views of the people most vitally affected. The Committee might approve, or amend, the Department’s proposals, or it might recommend something quite’ different. The Minister said that he realised that many local bodies had not been in a position to give a considered view sooner, (because of ,the local body elections, for the members 91 an outgoing local body would naturally wish to leave this question ol policy to their successors.