Suggests Use Of American Methods In River Control

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1941, Page 4

Suggests Use Of American Methods In River Control

| Special “Northern Advocate’’] WELLINGTON, This Day. Continuing the second reading debate of the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Bill, Mr. T. D. Burnett (Opposition—Temuka) said it was one of the most important measures that had come before Parliament in the last 25 years. It might prove useless, however, unless it was administered by practical men. The principle of the Bill was accepted by all members, but did they all realise the immensity of the problem? If erosion and flooding were to be overcome, it was essential that the authorities should have the goodwill of the occupiers of land affected, and, as a result, they should be careful not to become too bureaucratic. / Simple Remedy If the Government wanted a simple remedy for erosion, there was one available, namely to decommercialise the rabbit industry, and use every means to exterminate this pest. The rabbit was the chief factor in erosion in the South Island at least. Mr. L. G. Lowry (Government— Otaki) said the committee which had investigated the problem with the object of formulating the Bill had tried to evolve a measure which would create the least hardship. If it were proved during the debate that sections of the community would suffer hardship through its operation, the committee. when it met next week to hear evidence, would give all points consideration. It was so big a' problem that solution would take many years. Bureaucratic Control? Mr. W. J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford) said he doubted if anything like the work that was envisaged in the Bill would be done. The nation could not overlook the settlers, he continued. and in a Bill of this nature it was proposed to impose further burdens in the way of taxation, etc., on settlers. Was it intended to provide further bureaucratic control by civil servants? he asked. Because there was a provision for It under the Bill. Hysterical Rush The work of stemming river erosion was a long job and could not be done by any hysterical legislation pushed through the House before it had been thoroughly considered. Another few weeks or few months would not hurt so that it could be given that consideration. Mr. E. P. Meachen (Government— Marlborough): Don’t be too long. We want action. Something should be written into the measure to protect the struggling farmer, he said. He welcomed the Bill to deal with the problem, but he thought the present measure went too far and would be harsh on certain sections of the farming community. Man-Made Problem The Minister for Railways (Mr, Semple) said he was of the opinion this Bill, or one of similar type, should have been presented to the House 20 or 30 years ago. The people would have had thousands of acres of rich land now under cultivation if that had happened. If particular notice had been taken of embryonic erosion, he said, and the cause had been studied and the ! remedy applied, then there would not I have been the tremendous difficulties that were facing the country now. ! The major portion of this tremendous j problem was man-made and was due j entirely to the fact that virgin bush had been butchered. Lessons From America Mr. Semple said that big lessons could be learned from America, where rivers which had been thought impossible to control had now been dealt with. It had been discovered that stopbanking of fast rivers was useless, he said, and New Zealand should profit by that experience. j New Zealand could well adopt the i American principle of not spending j money on river erosion unless the value of the asset exceeded the ex- } penditure. The Americans did not j spend money on such control unless they were protecting a worthwhile j asset, and New Zealand could do the j same.

Must Be Faced Mr. W. S. Goosman (Oppn.-Waikato) said he was prepared to admit that he had not approved of the Bill when the committee, of which he was a member, commenced to take evidence, but the evidence he had heard had convinced him that the problem must be faced in a national way. Mr. E. L. Cullen (Govt.-Hawke’s Bay) said it would be difficult to formulate a Bill that would suit every district. It was not contemplated by the committee that the work could be accomplished in a few years, but the proposals contained in the Bill would enable something to be done. Mr. J. G. Coates (Oppn.-Kaipara) said it was wrong to assume there was no objection to principles included in the Bill. Disarming Anxiety There were a number of strong objections by men with a good understanding of the position, and whose opinions were worthy of consideration. He hoped the Minister would give sufficient time to enable the people to bring their suggestions before the committee. If this were done it would probably disarm some of the anxiety ! felt regarding principles that were in- [ eluded in the Bill. f Mr. Nash .said it was proposed to set aside Tuesday, and perhaps longer, ! for the purpose of enabling the committee to hear representations. There was no desire to shirk representations. In fact, the Government was only too pleased to receive them. Local Body Representation Mr. Coates suggested that the council proposed that the Bill should consist of seven and not six members, and of these seven, four should be j representative of local bodies directly j concerned. Mr. Coates added that there had been some talk of the desire by some members of the House to do away with capital punishment, but he would sooner do away with Clause 34 of the Bill, which enabled the Commissioner of Crown Lands to put Crown lessees off their properties if they did not comply with instructions given them regarding stocking of their land. Amendments Likely

The Minister for Public Works (Mr. Armstrong), in reply, said he wanted to thank the House for its reception of the Bill. There were certainly some points raised in the debate that called for explanation or assurance. He was sure that every member of the committee would take seriously representations that had been made. No doubt amendments would be necessary, and after the Bill had been in operation for a year or two, more might be needed then from the experiences gained.