Flood Protection

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 222, 18 September 1943, Page 4

Flood Protection

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Reading the report in to-day’s paper of the Flax Committee filling up a spillway opposite the Buckley side of the river, I think it is about time the Moutoa settlers woke up and moved in this matter of spillways, as the farm lands in this area, especially the lower end, have been a duck pond since July 12. Even now, if the Manawatu-Oroua Board's engineer was to visit this area he would find at least one foot of water still there with all the grass decayed underneath, being unlit to graze for at least six woeks. There has been no reduction in rates to the Moutoa farmers for allowing their properties to be used as a lagoon. In. fact they have been increased this year so they have been hit twice over besides having to pay rates to their own Drainage Board (Moutoa) to take this water off. While the Moutoa flax area was ow r ned and banked privately very often the river would reach 14ft. and the Moutoa farms would still be dry. Quite often before the spillways were put in, we had no water on the Moutoa for 18 months or longer but for the past two or three years we have been flooded out with each little rise in the river. Well, Sir, 1 think it would be far more reasonable for the ManawatuOroua River Board to make ample pro vision for the taking off of this water before placing in all these spillways which are ruining some of the best dairying land in the Manawatu.—l am. FLOODED FARMER. Foxton, Sept. 17.