RIVER CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 139, 14 May 1941, Page 8

RIVER CONTROL

MEETING TO DI3CUS3 BILL

A decision to ‘call u meeting of all interested local bodies to discuss the matter was made by tlie County Council, yesterday, when tne Counties’ Association wrote asking lor tho views ot the council on the proposed itiver Control liill.

The secretary oi the Alanawatu provincial district of the Farmers’ Union (.Mr L. i. i’limmer) wrote saying that members ot his executive felt that the question of river erosion was essentially one for local bodies,, and he inquired what steps were being taken to ensure that the needs of the district were being reported to the Parliamentary committee which would hear evidence on the matter. Failing no action by the local body the union would deal with the matter.

The chairman (@t. W. Jt. Hopcroft) said, that under the ltivcr Control Bill, il' it, became law, it seemed that all existing boards cmild be. abolished. The Bill was very wide in its ramifications and took some time to peruse. A suggestion that a meeting of representatives of local bodies be called was made by the .clerk (Mr N. 1. Nielsen) anti the council agreed to this course, the clerk to arrange the meeting and to invite two representatives Iroin each body concerned. TL was also decided to advise the Banners’ Union of the action being taken. A decision that tJie ManawatuOroua ltivcr Board be asked to call a conference of representatives of boroi.glis, councils, county councils, drainage boards and river boards ol the Manawatu district affected by the proposed ltivers Control Bill, to discuss the proposal, and that representatives ol ttie' Manawatu provincial district of the Farmers’ Union be invited to attend, was made by the Manawatu County Council at its meeting yesterday. The discussion arose when a circular letter was received iroin the Minister of Public Works (lion. H. T. Armstrong) advising that a committee had been set up to inquire into and report on questions relating to hoods and erosion, and the control ol rivers generally. asking' if the council had any suggestions to make to lorward them to the- committee. A copy of the proposed Bill was also forwarded. The pliairman (GY. W. E. Barber) commented that the Bill opened up a big question and it was not a matter that could be discussed in a few momente. CT. A. N. Morcom said that a meeting of drainage boards in the county was being called and it might be wise to wait until this meeting had* concluded. The council was concerned in the matter, lor where an area was not covered by a drainage board ii was under the control of tne council. Cr. K. A. Wilson stated that three members of the council were members of drainage boards and they could represent the council at any conference caded. Crs. W. E. Barber and J. Boyce, and the engineer (Mr H. V. Bond) and the clerk (Mr A. K. Drew) were appointed to represent the council at

I the conference. A circular was received stating that the Main Highways Board had decided to have a special item on this year’s estimates for flood damage restoration against which would be debited the cost of all such works exceeding £IOO, the expenditure involved being additional to the ordinary allocation of funds for highway expenditure. The board intended that “extraordinary damage only was to be charged to this special item. Any Hood damage on any single occasion amounting to £IOO or less was considered to be ordinary maintenance. If a bridge were washed out bv floods the reconstruction would be considered part of the flood damage restoration and not as a renewal item.