HON. E A. RANSOM VISITS MANAWATUOROUA FLOOD AREAS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6885, 15 April 1929, Page 8

HON. E A. RANSOM VISITS MANAWATUOROUA FLOOD AREAS

j Proiedka Scheme IIIVER HOARD EXPLAINS REQUEST FOR A SUBSIDY All the laud to be affected by the proposed new modified scheme fox flood protection in the Manawatu- ! Oroua River Beard’s district was j thoroughly inspected by the lion. I E. A. Ransom (Minister of Pub- ; lie Works) on Saturday morning, i The Minister, in answer to representations by Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., on behalf of the River Board, arrived iu Palmerston North on Friday night and after viewing the country involved, departed for Dannevirke on Saturday afternoon. In the course of the tour, a stop was made for refreshments at Shannon, when Mr. Linklater, on behalf of the district, extended a welcome to Mr. Ransom. In the course of his remarks, the member for the district stated that the tour had been arranged in order that the Minister might realise the possibilities and the necessity for the scheme. The matter of a subsidy was going to bo taken to the Government, for the reason that the very fine country which their visitor was being shown was already heavily taxed and those responsible for the suggested scheme felt that it was imperative that a subsidy be obtained. No matter how fine the quality of the land, it could only standa certain amount of rating. Mr. W. S. Carter, chairman of tho Manawatu-Oroua River Board, extended tc Mr. Ransom a welcome on his first ministerial visit to the Manawatu. It was a pleasure to know that their

visitor was an old resident of the district. Inspection had been arranged in order that Mr. Ransom could sec for himself tho possibilities of a fertile district, once adequately protecred from the menace of floods. The main factor which influenced the Board m its decision to approach the Government foi a subsidy - was that the scheme was necessary for tho progress of the dis trict. Mr. Ransom stated that he was not entirely inconversant with the Manswatu and its problems, as he had worked in Rongotea 45 years ago. There was no finer land in New Zealand than that which he had seen that day. He was fully alive to the economic necessity of improving land, particularly richer land, which would then be suitable for intensive cultivation. The Government was to be approached for a subsidy and he would point out that the Government owed itself a duty to protect whatever money it might put into the schemo and also the ratepayers who were being taxed. In other districts, the Minister proceeded, ho had noticed cases where land which had received betterment had not paid for the benefits conferred, nor ! compensated for deterioration caused. It was his duty to consider those who would be affected by the scheme and measures would have to be taken to see that no one was affected injuriously without being fully recompensed. Tho matter of subsidy would rest with tho Government. Speaking generally, Mr. Ransom suggested certain views that had entered his mind in connection with the initiation of such a largo improvement scheme. Beforo anything could be done, it would be necessary to have a thorough valuation, acceptable to all landowners involved, the assessment to be the fair selling value of tho property before the work was started. On this valuation, tho rate should be struck, property being graded into at least three classes, according to the advantages gained. Once a standard had been set and the work completed, if a landowner disposed of his holding at a figure in excess of tho betterment received and being paid for by rates, he should be compelled to pay back liis share of the capital charges of the scheme. A further suggestion was that a fund could bo established from a like source to compensate those suffering losses.

Mr. Ransom gave as a Tcason for his idea, particulars of a case in the Hauraki Plains, where a farmer with a 50aere holding had had a 20 ct. drain placed through his farm, causing a loss lof 10 acres of land. Those responsible I for the work had been so foolish ii. [the carrying out of their operations jthat the farmer was not even given a [say in tho disposal of tho spoil which jwas Spread over good arable land, to its great detriment. After detailing the steps he had taken as Minister to render justice to tho owner, Mr. Ransom said that men whose land had not been worth £5 an acre had sold out at £7O without pay-

ing a cent, towards the cost of the scheme which so greatly enhanced the value of their holdings. The Board would have to guard against contingencies such as those related. In concluding, Mr. Ransom reiterated that the Government should help to get the land to its maximum production capacity and at the same time protect its investment and guard agaiv.st all interference. There were many schemes iu hand, some to protect land from floods and others, as in Otago, to bring water onto the land. He was very pleased indeed to go arounj! the district and see for himself exafetly what was proposed. Tlie Route Taken. Accompanying the Minister on his tour of the district were Messrs. J. A Nash, M.P., J. Linklater, M.P., A. Seifert, W. S. Carter, A. Buchanan, R. Tanner, R. Law, B. Gower' and F. C. Hay (engineer to the Board). Leaving Palmerston North at eight in the morning, the party proceeded via Foxton Line to Karere road, whence progress was made through Lockwood and the land subject to flooding from the Oroua. Proceeding to Eongotea, the Minister was taken along Leen’s Line through Glen Oroua, down Main Oroua road to Rangiotu. The party here ascended Post Office Hill, and Mr. Hay explained and pointed out the proposed cut to shorten tho tortuous course of the Oroua. Mr. Ransom showed great interest in the fact that the scheme would permit a practically straight level road from Levin to Palmerston North, four miles shorter than the existing route. From Rangiotu, the party proceeded to Jackeytown to enable Mr. Ransom to view the old Tainui swamp, which suffers so much from floods. Journeying back, the party crossed the Rangitane suspension bridge tfnd after proceeding some distance through the Malcerua, turned back and headed for Shannon via Tokomaru. After morning tea, the Koputaroa district was viewed from Law’s Hill, Shannon, and the site of the Moutoa diversion, which would act as a spiiiway for floods of 10 feet and over, pointed out. Tho party then journeyed to the actual site via tho new Shannon bridge. Many questions were asked and full details given, the Minister betraying particular interest to learn of aiiy injurious affects possible by the diversion! After visiting the end of tho proposed diversion near the Whirokiuo bridge, the party returned to Palmerston North, arriving at one o’clock. The Minister departed a little later for Dannevirke. At Mr. Ransom’s request, the River Board is going to forward to him full reports and data in connection wrt% the scheme.