No. 5 Scheme For Big Flood Control Work

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6622, 7 August 1931, Page 7

No. 5 Scheme For Big Flood Control Work

M anawatu- Ovoua Board to Approach Government

Developmental Work of "National Importance

Bearing in mind the fact that the Government is continually searching for work of a reproductive nature that could be put ra hand under the No. 5 scheme for unemployment relief, the ManawatuOroua River Board sitting at Palmerston North yesterday decided to submit to the authorities a proposal for commencing work on a portion of its modified plan of flood control in the lower reaches of the Manawatu. It was pointed out that this matter was not a parochial one, hut was of national importance inasmuch that it would protect thousands of acres of valuable land which, when once brought into production, would considerably increase the Dominion's output of primary produce. It was resolved that steps be taken immediately to arrange a deputation to the Government with a view to obtaining men under tlie No. 5 scheme to carry cut jobs 1,2, 3 and 5 preferably under the supervision of the Public Works Department and also that a commit- , tee make the preliminary arrangements necessary for the undertaking of this work.

Proposal Outlined. Those present at the meeting were: Messrs. W. S. Garter (in the chair), B. G. Gower, J. E. E. Harrison, H. J. T. Hume, G. H. Wpeirs, D. Rowlands, H. Barber and R. J. Law. Mr. Garter, in suggesting his scheme to board members, stated that the proposal was to “have the Government assistance under the unemployment relief measures. The matter of flood protection was of vital importance to the district and was certainly a reproductive task that would be of national benefit. There were large numbers of people who heartily supported the proposal to commence the modified plan in the lower reaches and he had been surprised at the large quota of prominent men m the city who considered it the most important work to be undertaken in the Manawatu district. “I found that representative citizens declared it to be the very best thing for the district and that they were unanimous in promising their support,’’ he added. It would be necessary to first, commence on jobs Nos. 1 and 2 and follow this up with Job 3, which included tho big cut through the Moutoa, and all ot this could bo carried'out under No. 5 scheme. Mr. Hume: What, with shovels? The chairman: Yes, quite a lot of this could be done with shovels. It would certainly cost more than it would with the assistance of machinery but it could be acccomplished satisfactorily. , . , .. Mr. Hume expressed the view tnat u was necessary to lower the level of tho river to a great extent and this could hardly be done without the machines. Mr. Carter: The Government recently considered the modified scheme of flood control of such importance us to warrant a subsidy of £IOO,OOO and, although it would not bo possible to do all of our proposals with man-power it cannot be denied that this work provides an outlet for reproductive work. I feel that tho proposition entitles us to ask for support even if the Govern* ment have to use some machinery.

The Jobs Detailed. In the lower section of the Man&« vatu, Job. No. 1 embraces the Rush flat navigable channel estimated t« cost £SOOO. The purposes of this work are primarily (1) to give a better route for shipping to Foxton and to obviate any objection from the Marine Department to the dumping of spoil from Job No. 2 into the channel of the river; and (2) to assist in the scouring out of the * new channels proposed through Manawatu-Kuk and Moutoa, Job. No. 2, known as the Man-Kuk cut is estimated to cost £20,000, which sum allows sufficient for any compensation. This cut would join the river, on the west opposite Rush flat and on the east at a point half a mile north of the outlet of the Moutoa main drain, cutting off 3 miles 60 chains of the river. Its purpose is to take flood waters from the Moutoa quickly and to enable the main Moutoa cut to scour out. . Job Nc. 3 is the main cut estimated to cost £130,000, which amount includes the purchase of land and compensation. The cut would run from the Manawatu near Poplar mill, through the Moutoa and joining the Manawatu again about 11 miles above the Foxton wharf. It would bo 6 miles 11 chains long and obviates 22 miles 20 chains of the river. Job No. 5 is known a s the tributary channel, estimated to cost £15,000. This channel is for tho purpose of taking ultimately the drainage, .front Makerua and Ivoputaroa subdivisions and the waters of the Tokomaru, Manga ore and Koputaroa rivers. Its immediate purpose would be to relieve the flow in the main, river below Paiaka and to act as a scouring agent on the lower portion of the main cut. Whirokincr Road Work. The chairman pointed out that, at present, there was some talk of spending a large sum of money for the purpose of raising the level of tho Winrokino road but, if the present proposals were adopted, this expenditure could be prevented.

Mr. Hume: Would jobs 1 and 2 overcome the necessity of raising this road? Mr. Carter: Ho, but it would provide the necessary foundation for the work. He added that the Moutoa had been under water recently and even the Kairanga—although residents would object to s uch a statement—had "been wet.” _ Mr. Harrison briefly expressed the opinion that tho time was opportune l'or the proposals to be carried out. Mr. Gower asked if it were anticipated that the district would then carry out tho remainder of the modified scheme without the support of tho Government. Tho chairman replied that if the unemployed were put on tho work and tho Government could see its way clear to use some of the £IOO,OOO subsidy promised Jobs 1,2 and 3 could at least be done without the help from machinery. He contended that if tho Government was approached and a deputation, consisting of board members, local body representatives and other prominent citizens, was to present the facts some measure of support would be forthcoming. Mr. Hume: Well, I am in favour of the idea only if we do not have to rato our ratepayers. Helping the Workless. Mr. Carter next suggested that a central camp could be established and this would overcome the present problem of transport for the men employed undei the scheme. This would also assist intaking the men away from tho city where the position was acute. "The time is not opportune for ratepayers to load themselves with rates and we must ask the Government which can assist by reducing the unemployment difficulties, helping the district generally and also carrying out works of national importance,” said Mr. Carter, who intimated that tho members of parliament for the district should be approached with a view to securing their support. The board’s engineer (Mr. I. o. Hay) had previously declared that it would take a fortnight to employ 100 men, said the chairman, and there was also a huge amount of detail work to be investigated before a commencement could be made. He thought that the best procedure to adopt would bo to Wait on the Prime Minister with a view to his consent to commence work in the lower area. ' "I also think,” added the speaker "that with no rating on jobs 1,2 and 3 all opposition to the modified scheme will vanish.” . .. , Mr. Law declared at this stage that the only opposition to the scheme had been tho cost and undoubtedly if the present idea were put Into practice, it would greatly assist the general proposal as far as its completion was concerned. Mr. Gower agreed with this opinion and said that tho cost of the remaining portion would virtually be negligible. Mr. Carter stated that the Kairanga could get to work at once and would not have 300 acres under water. Arrangements Discussed.

The chairman suggested that a committee be formed to approach local bodies for their support. Mr. Hume thought the Palmerston North Unemployment Committee should bo acquainted w’ith the position at its meeting on Monday morning. ‘The chairman: It could not handle e. question like this. 1 Mr. Hume: No, but it is formed of prominent men and includes t.ie chairmen of various local bodies in the district. . , ~ , Mr. Law stated that it might be advisable to secure the assistance of the Public Works Department on sue a an undertaking. "The Government has been hunting around looking for real reproductive work to do and we could not offer them a better scheme than this one,” he said, adding that if the river remained as it had been during the past month ordinary drainage matters were of little use. , . ~ „ Mr. Hume next moved tliat tne chairman be appointed to wait on the Unemployment Committee and that tne clerk be instructed to write to all district local bodies asking them to appoint form a deputation to the Government. The chairman: There has been too much time ldst already and wo cannot afford to lose any more time. This motion was subsequently withdrawn by Mr. Hume. Mr. Law favoured the board going straight to the Department and getting the other support later. "We ag a river board should place

tne proposal Dexuro mu BoaTd and the Government, showing them a workable basis/ ’ he stated. The chairman said lie endorsed this view and felt sure rapid action would have to be taken. He would wait on the Palmerston North Unemployment Committee and local bodies personally. Planting Proceeding. . Suggesting that tne board could work in conjunction with movements already in hand in the lower area, Mr. Haw explained that planting work was proceeding on the southern side oi the river at Whirokino to stop the sanddrift which was driving the river back to the Poxton beach while the Native department were cutting up the Matakarapa block for settlement at a place where the proposed cut would go through. To work in with the natives and tne Unemployment Hoard would ensure the best results, he contended. “Yes, and we will have to work pretty fast as those works are in hand," declared Mr. Carter. Mr. Hume explained that No. 5 job was the one the engineer would have stressed had he been present. It was tne hood- aoove nine and 10 feet that tne Makerua wanted relief from, as weil as the general relief of the dis-tr-ct. . -c was then moved by Mr. Law and s.-ended by Air. Hume, “That steps d. ; taicen to arrange a deputation to t~e uovernmeut with a view to obtain lLg men under the No. 5 scheme to do went on the board's modified scheme, preferably under the supervision of the ftibiic Works Department.'' -This was carried unanimously. A further resolution passed was that a commitee, consisting of Messrs. Carter, Law, Hume and Howlands be appointed to make the preliminary arrangements necessary to carry out the work. A special meeting of the board would be called to finalise matters, concluded the chairman.