Protection Against Flooding Menace

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1948, Page 6

Protection Against Flooding Menace

WELLINGTON. Fri. (Sp.)—The appointment of advisory or technical committees is provided for in the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Amendment Bill, which was introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister of Works (Mr Semple) said that the bill had been asked for by the Soil Conservation Council and the various catchment boards. . The bill, which contains 15 clauses, is largely a machinery measure. It alters the functions of the Soil Conservation Council by adding the carrying out of hydrological research. The powers of the council also are altered to enable it, by agreement with the landowners, affected, to carry out defence works against water. The bill also authorises the appointment of specified public servants as non-elective members of the board.

With the written agreement of the owners and occupiers, the board may levy a special rate for work done to benefit any particular area. Owners or occupiers of land within a catchment district' may now apply to the catchment board in writing calling on it to exercise its powers to prevent flooding or erosion. The board may first require the owner or occupier to pay a ■ reasonable sum for engineering and other expenses.