SPECIAL STUDY PLANNED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 25 June 1938, Page 9

SPECIAL STUDY PLANNED

ENGINEERING EXPERTS

X.Z. RIVER EROSION (P«r Pross Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The formation of a special branch cf the Public Works Department, comprised of engineers with special knowledge of river and sea erosion, is contemplated by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, to devise a national plan of river control.

This announcement was made by the Minister at Temuka to-day, when replying to a deputation which placed n request before him for assistance m combating the menace of flooding in the Geraldine and Temuka districts.

Mr. Semple said the method adopted to control rivers throughout New Zealand in past years savoured of comic opera. With the multiplicity of river boards, it would need to be tackled at once on a scientific basis. The cost would amount to something like £5,000,000, .but this huge figure had lo be faced if the saving of thousands of acres of valuable land, now endangered, was to be accomplished. Tito nation could not bear the whole of this cost, and the farmers would have to carry their share.

The Minister added that he would not permit the expenditure of one penny of public money until the cause of, and the remedy for, erosion was fully established. Then; was only one way to ascertain the cause—that was a thorough survey, and a study of each river and the surrounding country by qualified engineers. A staff of these men should be appointed to concentrate on the preparation of a national plan for combating erosion. The plan should detail the urgency of each particular problem, and set out .the costs of providing a remedy. When that was done, the country would have a basis o'.i which to begin the great battle to save farm land from being washed into the sea.