WAYS AND MEANS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 148, 8 June 1932, Page 9

WAYS AND MEANS

PREPARATION OF PLANS. RESOLUTION BY BOARD. ‘‘That the board’s engineer be instructed to confer with the Public Works Department and prepare plans and estimates for the diversion of the Tutaekuri river to be first approved by the board and then forwarded to the Minister of Public Works for approval, and that the board set up a committee to devise ways and means to carry out the work.” The above resolution was yesterday carried by the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board on the motion of Mr H. R. Clark, the committee appointed being Messrs W. E. Jarvis (chairman), H. R. Clark, J. Macdonald and C. Lassen. In moving tho motion Mr Clark said that it was to a large extent providing for a machinery clause in connection with the proposal already agreed to by the board. Mr R. E. Talbot considered that the board was setting out on a hopeless task and thought that it would be well advised to embark upon something that would be of use and would give relief instead of having something visionary in mind. If the board tackled the problem with the idea of giving relief rather than looking to the solution of the difficulty, it would be doing some good. In reply to Mr W. H. Campbell the chairman said the board had not the power to raise money without the sanction of the ratepayers, while it was first necessary to obtain permission from the Loans Board.

Mr L. Harris suggested that the engineers when preparing the plans should take into consideration the overflow from the Ngaruroro. Mr Lassen agreed to this suggestion.

“I fail to see the need of having to confer with the Public Works Department,” said Mr R. E. Talbot. “If local ‘bodies had only more confidence in themselves, there would not be tho need for this top-heavy department.”

Mr J. Macdonald considered that it was advisable for tho board to confer with the department in view of the Government having railways, bridges and highways that would have to be considered.

The motion was then put and carried, tho voting being:—For: Messrs Jarvis, Clark, Macdonald, Lassen and Sheath. Against: Messrs Talbot, Harris and Campbell. Mr Burns did not vote.