MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 446, 11 July 1922, Page 2

MANAWATU-OROUA RIVER BOARD.

THE RECENT DEPUTATION

MINISTERIAL REPLY,

Mr E. Newman, M.P., has recoin'd the following reply from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. Mr Dowme Stewart), in reference to the recent deputation which waited upon the Minister: “With reference to the deputation introduced by yon and Mr J. A. Nash, M.R., relative to the petition praying for the constitution of the proposed ManawatnOrona. river district, and to the objections lodged praying that certain lands should he excluded therefrom, J have now to inform you that, as indicated to the deputation, it is proposed to constitute lint district with the boundaries generally following the high flood level as determined by the 1908 commission, il being considered that the objectors are adequately protected by the classification provisions of the_ River Boadrs Act, under which lands which do not benefit will not be rated. “It is. as you are doubtless aware, a somewhat difficult matter in fixing tjie boundaries of a river district to ascertain definitely whether all lands included therein will or will not benefit. It must bo borne in mind that floods in a valley depreciate the value of surrounding property, which conversely benefits by improvement works to safeguard flooded areas, and consequently such property should contribute to some extent. Again, there is the factor of settlement in upper reaches having intensified Hoods by destruction of natural cover of the ground, and cutting of roads, drains, etc., increasing- the amount of detritus carried down the river. “It will he necessary to introduce legislation exempting the board from the provisions of section 75 of the River Boards Act. which section prohibits a river board from exorcising jurisdiction within a harbour district, and as the larger part of the proposed river district is within the Foxton harbour district the board, when elected, would have no powers unless exempted from that section. The interests of the Harbour Board, it is considered, will he adequately protected by the provisions of section 86 of the same Act. “It is also considered desirable that legislation should be introduced safeguarding the existing works of the drainage boards and providing that future works shall not be constructed either by the drainage boards or the river board when constituted, without the consent of the other boards affected; provided that if such consent is not given the board desiring to construct works may .apply to the Public Works Department, whose decision shall ho final. The department may, of course, hold such inquiry a3_ _it thinks necessary before giving a decision.”