RIVES CONTROL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 181, 3 August 1915, Page 6

RIVES CONTROL.

THE PROBLEM OF THE WAIRAU PLAIN.

PROPOSED itoYAL COMMISSION

The. Wairau Hnrbor Board reeo. from'the Borough Council la« «j^t a circular invitation to send w.k. gates to a conference of the 10i..l bodies .(including road boards) interested in the proposal to appoint a Boval Commission to advise.the Government on the question of se.t.n up a more unified ana effec.tr. c s>>tem of eontiollin- the rivers of the Wairau Plain. The date of the conference was fixed as August 20th. It was eS pl:uned that the fixture was the outcome of a circular letter issued by Sir Francis Bell, Minister for Internal Affairs, representing that he desired to ascertain from the combined local authorities whether they preferred to: (1) J-i*ve an Act passed during the present session authorising, the Govcrnor-m-^ouneU practically to legislate in respecu to rivet- conservation and improvement and in respect to the constitution of a river and drainage board tor tlie whole district from the point where the rivers eater the Plain to the sea (in which case he would recommend the Government to advise immediately the appointment of a commission of experts to take evidence and report: or (2) First have .a ieport obtained and then have legislation introduced by the local authorities to jrive effect or otherwise to the report of the Commission (in which case he would not recommend the Government to advise the appointment of the Commission until, at the earliest, March, 1916) The Minister pointed out that if the latter course were adopted nothing would be gained m pomt-of time-so far as legislation was concerned by the immediate appointment of the Commission. -. Mr J. J. Ccrry (Mayor) explained the position and pointed out that the impression that the conference of local bodies was for 'the purpose of considering the question of amalgamation forthwith on its own merits vftis a wrong one. The object was to discuss the. alternatives offered by the Mniftter. For himself he was in .favor of tackling the problem without further waste of time and adopting the speedier course » offered by the Finistor.

Mr \V. Carv did not see eye to eye •with Mr Cony in vetrfud to the movement lor reform. He suggested that the Minister would not have moved in the matter if he knd not been stirred up by Mr Cciry himself. The recent litigation between ihe Lawer Wairau and Spring Creek River Boards having had the effect of removing the injunction held by. the latter body, the n-^ed for amalgamation had largely disappeared. He believed that what was really behind the present agitation was in insidious to gain rating powers for the* Harbor Board. Mr Corry replied that the view point tnk^n by -Mi Cut wos an entirely false one/ Mr Carr's admission that" iii st of all he wanted a better system of river control and now (because events had turned in favor of one- River Board and against the other) ho did not wa.nt an alteration was a reply to his own argument. As for stirring np the Minister, he hud a perfect- right to do what he thought proper in the endeavor to have the common interests of the district placed on a better footing, and did not intend to subordm-nte his views ■and actions to the prejudices of any particular section of the community. He pointed out ti);;t the Minister, in his circular, particularly emphasised the observations made by the Supreme Court nnd the Appeal Court as to the untenableness of the•■present divided system of river control. The suggestion tiiat ibe H.arbor Board, was intriguing for rating powers was not justified by the actions of that body or any of its memhys, and was quite ridiculous. .

Captain Eokford F.'iid the question was as to whether Blenheim was to stop where it was in the mareff of progress or go ahead a little. From a shipping point of view on improvement in the system of local government was very desirable. The •■chairman (Mr L. Griffiths) said that ihe movement for v, better laothod of controlling .-the rivers was not ■associated in the .slightest degree with an attempt sin ihe part of the Harbor Board to obtain rating powers. The Board had not brought, any influence whatever to bea:r; in this direction. It had never o.imed at such a result. It "did not instigate the steps now being taken by the Minister. However, the present question was not as to the merits or demerits of amalgamation; "t was merely a matter of appointing delegates to a conference which was to v say whether a Royal Commission should be set up forthwith or later on. Apparently a Commission was to be appointed whichever .»f the two processes the local bodies preferred.* ? It was pointed out that no direction was forthcoming as to the number of delegates required for the conference.

Finally it vms rosoKed to appoint tl-e chairman and Messrs Pike, Jackson, and A. C Eclcford and Captain lUckford—-the number being equal to the strength of the Lower Wairau River Board.