CLUTHA VALLEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26589, 11 October 1947, Page 8

CLUTHA VALLEY

SEPARATE AUTHORITY COMMISSION’S APPROVAL WITHHELD Special Correspondent. WELLINGTON, Oct. 10. The proposal of local authorities in the Upper Clutha Basin that there should be a Clutha VaUey Authority established was not acceptable to the Local Government Commission. The commission, in comment on this proposal in its findings issued yesterday, said:

“Counsel for the local authorities in the Upper Cluth Basin suggested that a Clutha Valley Authority should be set up on similar lines to the Tennessee Valley Authority and, basing his contention on the fact that certain revenues were derived from irrigation and from hydro-electricity, he suggested that this revenue should be used for the work of the Catchment Board.

“ This contention fails to appreciate that the capital costs involved in irrigation works and particularly in hydro-electric work must be found in the first place by the Government. No autonomous Clutha Valley Authority could raise sufficient finance to erect the necessary works and to finance them to production stage. Only the State could undertake this huge operation. In any case, as is stated above, the operations of the hyroelectric works will not in any wise detrimentally affect the Clutha Valley. The reverse would appear to be the case.

“Further, it has been established in evidence that the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council is always willing to subsidise capital works, a source of finance which would obviously be dried up if something in the nature of an autonomous Clutha Valley Authority were constituted. We therefore cannot endorse the suggestion of counsel for the Upper Clutha local authorities. “ Considerable evidence was adduced at the hearing as to the operation and finance of the Lower Clutha River Trust. We also had an opportunity of inspecting the greater part of the area over which the board operates together with some of the works which they have constructed. We are convinced that as at present constituted, the board is not sufficiently strong financially to undertake the enormous tasks which have been set it.

“ The general procedure of flood control in the Lower Clutha is intimately bound up with the control of erosion of every kind in the upper reaches. We were impressed with the evidence of the engineer to the trust and feel that within the limits of its finance, this institution has carried out quite a good job, but unless the matter is dealt with on a much wider basis and with more adequate finance, than is at present available, the task must grow more and more difficult and ultimately prove beyond the capacities of the trust.

“ We do not think that there is any just cause for complaint by the Balclutha borough as to the non-expendi-ture of trust funds on works adjacent to Balclutha. Admittedly work in this area is necessary, but with the restricted finance' available, the trust was in duty bound to undertake the most pressing responsibilities.”