PREVENTION OF FLOODING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19667, 27 June 1938, Page 4

PREVENTION OF FLOODING

WAIPAOA RIVER CONTROL DUTY OP GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE OF SETTLERS Settlers in recently flooded areas in the Gisborne district are seeking Government control of the Waipaoa River, and at a meeting held in the Maka-raka-Matawhero Hall on Saturday light a committee was elected to take the matter up with the Government.

The settlers were encouraged in this view by a reported statement by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, the interpretation taken by the meeting from his remarks being that the Government intended taking a comprehensive view of all rivers liable to flooding and making it a national responsibility.

Those present stressed the importance of something being done immediately to remove the danger of flooding, and pointed out that the river bed was being raised with every flood. If that process continued and the water could not get away quickly enough the bursting of the banks at Waerenga-a-hika was considered inevitable.

Therefore, if responsibility for the undertaking would not be shouldered by th'e Government, the flats as a whole and the town of Gisborne as well would be deeply concerned with future developments.

The meeting on Saturday night was a lengthy one, and most aspects of the position were discussed, including the recent interviews with the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Health and Education, and the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands.

It was decided to elect the following committee to induce the Government to take control of the Waipaoa River:—Mr. F. W. Peddle, chairman, and Mr. Phil Matthews, Whakawhitira; Mr. E. R. Renner, Patutahi-Repo-ng'aere; Messrs. C. Robcke and E. McDowell, Manutuke-Muriwai.