CATCHMENT BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26114, 29 March 1946, Page 9

CATCHMENT BOARD

PROVISION FOR MINOR WORKS

A MEASURE OF ECONOMY (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Mar. 28. At the Municipal Conference to-day, the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple), said it was intended to introduce legislation in the coming session to amend the rating provisions of the catchment boards to the extent that within the existing provision of ljd rate tne boards should be empowered to strike a rate up to one farthing on a uniform scale, to be spent exclusively on soil conservation, afforestation, the purchase of land for conservation and regeneration, the destruction of pests, flood forecasting, fire-fighting, publicity and educational work, the purchase of plant, and river protection works limited to £250 on any one work in any one year. The £250 provision,, the Minister explained, was to enable the boards to do small jobs, the classification of which was unnecessary, and which might be an important saving in heavy expenditure at a later date. For all major works, the classification which could be expected to be completed within five or six years was the only fair basis. . The conference unanimously approved of the proposed legislation.