SWAMP DRAINAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21120, 1 March 1932, Page 11

SWAMP DRAINAGE.

WORK FOR UNEMPLOYED. TAUPIRI DISTRICT SCHEME. CONTRACTS FOR 200 MEN. [from our own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Monday. Practical effect, to the jneasures promised by the Minister of Public Works, the Rt, Hon. J. G. Coates, some time ago to relieve unemployment by land improvement schemes is being given in the Waikato, where it is expected 1000 men will be employed on drainage works within a few months' time. At a conference held to-day between members of the Taupiri Drainage and River Board, Mr. F. S. Dyson, district engineer of the Public Works Department, Mr. R. G. MacMorran, land drainage engineer, and Mr. W. Slaughter, officer 111 charge of unemployment, Auckland, it was decided to establish a married men's camp at Gordonton, and to put 200 men at work immediately on improving the Komakorau Stream in the Hillside and Woodlands drainage, districts. The chairman of the board, Mr. L. R. W. Reid, stated at the conclusion of the conference, that it was felt by all present that the drainage of the Taupiri Swamp lent itself as an admirable scheme for providing work. Settlers were not in a position to pay the whole cost of the scheme. Under the arrangements made to-day it was proposed to employ 200 men on small contracts' in gangs of four or six men, who would be paid on a yardage basis. The men would be employed for 44 hours each week. The Taupiri Board, said Mr. Reid, had no funds It was recently formed, and had just struck a rate which would yield £4OO. This money was required to pay for preliminary expenses that had already been incurred. Under the proposal in hand the ratepayers in the Komakorau watershed would be required to find a small proportion of the cost. The would consist of clearing and deepening stretches of Komakorau Stream at Gordonton and Puketaha. Engineers of the Lands Drainage Department would supervise the whole of the work. Mr. Reid eaid the conference discussed the deepening of the outlet to the Mangawara River at Taupiri, and the clearing of stretches of the Mangawara River, near Orini, where blockages and flooding were frequent in rainy weather. The conference was informed that the Lands Drainage Department had land dredges, which would be made available for this work. Operations in the Mangawara basin could be paid for almost wholly by the Unemployment Board. Proposals in connection with this scheme were tentatively adopted. Mr. Reid said he expected that the Unemployment, Board would probably have 1000 men employed on drainage works in the board s area before the winter set in. WHANGAREI RELIEF WORK. * RECLAMATION OF LAND. [BY TELEGRArH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WHANGAREI, Monday. The scheme advocated by the engineer of the Whangarei Harbour Board, Mr. W. M. Fraser, for the reclaiming of tidal lands by unemployed labour has evidently met with approval by the Unemployment Board. Instructions have been received from Wellington that all men engaged under No. 5 scheme are to be taken from other local bodies works in the district and placed under the control of the Harbour Board. * This morning 120 men commenced draining work at the reclamation near Orierahi and between Limeburners' Creek and Kioreroa. It is expected that this number will be kept working there continuously. No men are working to-day under the Onerahi Town Board or the Whangarei High School Board, and only six are engaged under the Whangarei Borough Council, completing the levelling of a portion of the Parua Bay Road. Kanio men commenced work this morning on the Three Mile Bush Road.