FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 120, 17 April 1930, Page 2

FLOOD CONTROL SCHEME.

BOARD SEEKS SUBSIDY. REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER. INSPECTION OF THE AREA. - Advocating' the urgent case for the granting of a Government subsidy of £1 for £1 on/ its modified scheme of flood control, a deputation from the Manawatu-Oroua River Board waited upon the Minister of Public Works (Hon. E.-A. Ransom) 3 r esterday afternoon, at Foxton, and placed before him for further consideration the major issues advanced in its proposals. Subsequently, the Minister made an inspection of the area, which the board seeks to protect from the menace of flood ■waters. When the tour had been completed Mr Ransom intimated that it would not be possible to grant a £1 for £1 subsidy for the undertaking, and he requested the board to state its minimum requirements. The matter is to be renewed when he returns to this centre next week.

DEPUTATION’S CASE

general taxpayer to contribute. that was putting it baldly, ho said, but he believed in speaking of things as he saw them. Mr Ransom went on to say he felt that it would be necessary to ascertain definitely what amount of money was required from ‘the Government toallow the scheme to proceed. They certainly wanted to get down to something very concrete. . Continuing, the Minister said lie felt concerned’that such serious results had followed the January flood.* To some extent the seasons seemed to be changing. . It was extraordinary what downpours of rain occurred at intervals, turning streams into torrents, and sending flood waters sweeping over the land with deposits of silt. Provision had to be made for those conditions.* When he looked at the closer settlement of the land in tho flood areas, lie could not help feej*'.g what a responsibility would rest on the Government, and the board as well, where the security of tho settlers depended wholly on the scheme. He felt that the proposals must be sufficient in character to give absolute immunity from serious inundation. SUGGESTION OF DREDGING. The question was being , carefully considered, added Mr Ransom, but when he was informed of the threatened erosion, it made him realise how little flood banks along rivers were to be relied upon. He was not an engineer, and did not- profess to be one, but it appeared to him that dredging, thus raising the level of the whole country above the water level, was to be preferred to the building of-mere stopbanks. That, however, was an ejngineerina possibility whiefi might not apply to the Manawatu River at ail. Ho J could assure those present that tho matter had received much consideration. It had been on his table until he was sick of seeing it there, and he had been awaiting a favourable opportunity to bring it before Cabinet. He stated lie could go into details later—he did not say on .that occasion—but perhaps at some time in the future. The Government would be prepared to assist to a degree, but the board would have to state the absolute minimum required for its scheme, Subsequently, the party proceeded to inspect the areas menaced by flood waters. They traversed the Moutoa, visiting various points of interest, including Langley’s Drain, where a private concrete wall is being erected between two high points to protect about 1000 acres of rich land. Tho engineer explained that under the modified scheme of flood control it was proposed to cut off twenty miles of the tortuous, course of the Manawatu River to the sea. It was proposed to excavate a channel forty feet wide, where cuts were necessary, to take the first flow of the river. The water could then scour out its own bed, and - obtain increased velocity by reason of the greater fall. . The Minister expressed the view that it would be a pity to lose so much soil without putting it on the land. Mr Hay stated that that would involve heavy expenditure. ' The Minister, enlarging on his comment, 6aid it was his idea that a suction dredge such as that employed on the reclamations at Wellington might be used.

Mr J. Linklater, M.P., was present with the deputation, which included Mr M. E. Perreau (Mayor of Foxton) and Messrs. J. Hume, B. G. Gower, H. Barber, C. H. Spiers, A. Seifert, R( Law, A. Buchanan and A. E. Harrison (members of the board), together with the engineer (Mr F. C. Hay). The chairman of- the board, •Mr W. S. Carter, was Unable to be present owing to an important private engagement in Auckland. Mr Linklater extended a cordial welcome to the Minister on the occasion of his visit to inspect the course of the Manawatu River and the damage which it had caused. He said it was not his intention to explain the difficulties to the Minister, who had been over the area on a previous occasion. Sufficient it was to say that of recent months the river - had been responsible for very considerable damage, and as the Minister would have noticed as he passed through the Whirokino, tho grass had suffered from the water and silting. That appearance was. but typical of the pastures in the affected areas of the Moutoa. The Maltcrua Board had constructed stopbanks, but it was impossible to keep immunity from flood waters confined to the protected area. Mr Linklater stated that the only practicable scheme for dealing with the problem was to make cuts eliminating the bad bends and points of erosion. That was, however, a costly undertaking, and the board could not commit, itself to tho expenditure without a substantial Government subsidy. It would not ask the Minister for an immediate answer —runless it was a favourable one—to its representations, but would let him inspect the area and see the particular points which were giving most trouble. It was hoped that as the outcome of hie visit material advantages would accrue to the Manawatu-Oroua River Board and district. LOSS OF PASTURES. Extending a welcome to the Minister, the Mayor of Foxton expressed the wish that the Prime Minister would make a speedy recovery to health. He stated that all realised that a great responsibility rested upon the Minister, and that the joint requests made by the Foxton Chamber of Commerce and Manawatu-Oroua River Board involved serious issfles. Favourable consideration of the representations meant a great deal to the district in the removal of the ever-persistent flood menace. Mr B. G. Gower said that without financial assistance the areas which were suffering could not. obtain the relief required. The flood last January, while not the biggest, was the worst, ever experienced in the Moutoa. The injurious summer flood had killed the* yegetation and spoilt the pastures. Some 4000 or 5000 acres in the lower part of'the Moutoa were in that condition, and ; did -not seem to be recovering. Lands bordering on that area were 60 per cent, adversely affected. Good grass had been killed and it was difficult to restore the natural conditions. It’was difficult land to cultivate, and if the present conditions continued large" numbers of settlers were faced with ruin. The Makerua Drainage Board had built stopbanks, but the adjoining areas had suffered badly. Should they adopt the same policy of protection it would be suicidal to the interests of all, as the banks would never stand the full volume of the river at its heights, and one or other of the protective works would be breached. Mr Gower stressed the urgency of the case.

Mr Hay stated that it would be an expensive business. The same results would be obtained by dropping the water level as proposed. Proceeding to Marotiri, near the Opui bend, and overlooking the Makerua stopbank, with the Moutoa basin on the right, the engineer explained to the Minister the proposed cuts. Increased velocity in the river >vould give greater depth and define the channel better. He stated that it was proposed to erect twelve foot high protection banks alon gthe river and there would be a gradual fall in its bed, from Hamilton’s Line downwards. PAYMENTS OVER PERIOD. The. Minister asked how long it would take to carry ,the scheme through to oompletion. Mr may stated that it would occupy about five years. The Minister observed in that event the Government's contributions could be spread over the periol mentioned. ■\\nen dredging was again mentioned, the 'engineer stated that it might be possible to hire dredges being used in the north by the Public Works Department. The amount of • subsidy required in the first, year of operations would not be large, owing to the extensive nature of the preliminary work tor the scheme. The whole cost of the main scheme was £520,000, while the modifiel scheme, which was being advanced as the first step towards that object, would involve an expenditure of about £300,000. It was known that the undertaking as originally proposed was a half a million pounds job. The board was carrying out at present job 10 in its scheme. , The Makerua area had splendid protection for just as long as the other areas did not adopt the same policy as it had followed. An inspection was mr.de of job 10, which involves the cutting off of the double bend in the Mahawatu River near the Moutoa Hall. The total length of the cuts was explained rs being about forty chains, while a new bank was being erected as a preliminary work across Maori Point. | The Minister was conducted to the I scene of activities on Bryant’s bank, which is just below tho new Shannon bridge, and is stated to be badly affected in nearly every flood. The party returned via Shannon through the Makerua, where close settlement is proceeding, and at the Half-Crown Bend, on the main road, an indication was given to the Minister of the volume of water winch"swept across during flood-times into the Taonui basin. Prior to the departure of the Minister for Wanganui, members of the board renewed their representations for the granting of a Government subsidy for the scheme. Mr J. Hume pointed out that the

ATTITUDE OF MINISTER. Replying to the speakers, the Minister acknowledged the wishes expressed for tho restoration of the Prime Minister to health and strength, and stated that a message had already been transmitted to him conveying those sentiments. Mr Ransom said that the matter which had brought him there was important not only to the particular district concerned, but to the whole Dominion. Drainage works and undertakings provided, perhaps, the most serious problems for consideration in his department. The Government had assisted various activities with subsidies from time to time, and no doubt would continue to do so. It might be felt that it was somewhat indifferent to the interests of the Mana-watu-Oroua Board because it had taken no definite action since it had assumed office. If there was any blame to be bestowed, tho Minister said he himself was prepared to accept culpability. It was not a question of disregard for the representations which had been made, but was one of finance, and his department did not have limitless funds at its disposal. Large sums had had to be disbursed to meet the pressing needs of the unemployment position, and conditions did not appear to be any easier than they were tivelvo months ago.

Tho Minister stated that he was quite prepared that the Government should assist the board, as its engineers were' in full agreement with the proposals which had been submitted, but he wanted to be assured as >■ to the actual amount which the Government wasexpected to contribute. He held strongly to the conviction that where the Government made financial assistance available for land drainage schemes, the outlay should be reimbursed to the Crown. That could be achieved by the acquisition of the land involved, and its sale after the improvements had been effected. However, the position was different, in the ManawatU, where valuable commercial land was held in private tenure. It seemed to him that the scheme advanced by the board had tobe regarded purely from the viewpoint of.what assistance the Crown, was justified in giving where the landwas in private ownership, and how far' it-was justified in asking the

Makerua krea would be taken over by the board, relieving it of liability. Mr Linklater mentioned that, apart from the subsidy, tho sanction of the ratepayers had to be obtained for the expenditure of the balante of the money lequired for the scheme. Tho Minister stated that the Government represented the general taxIt was pointed out that tho Manawatu River drained three million acres of hill country, and mention was made of the hazard to crops by the possibility of floods. ABSOLUTE MINIMUM WANTED. The Minister said he did not think that in its present financial position the Government could stand granting a £1 for £1 subsidy, and lie thought there was very little chance tor it being granted. The board would have to state what were its absolute minimum requirements. , , Mr Linklater observed that unless substantial Government assistance was given the board could not proceed wnli the scheme, which was a direct benefit to the whole country. . The Minister: You claim that it is a general advantage to the whole of the Dominion, besides this district, but I say “No.” , ~ Mr Linklater intimated that the board would meet to consider its answer to the Minister’s suggestion regarding its minimum requirements. The Minister: That is what I want you to say, and make it as small as possible. It was decided that arrangements should be made for the boat'd to discuss the matter and meet the Minister again for ari hour or so on TuesIt was decided that arrangements should be made for the to discuss the matter and meet the Minister again for an hour or so on Tuesday wnen he passed through Palmerston North on his return from The Minister assented to this proposal.