RIVER AND SEA EROSION

Southland Times, Issue 23544, 25 June 1938, Page 7

RIVER AND SEA EROSION

PLAN FOR NATIONAL CONTROL PROPOSALS EXPLAINED BY MINISTER (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, June 24. The formation of a special branch of the Public Works Department, comprised of engineers with a 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 Terhuka today when replying to a deputation which placed a request before him for assistance in combating the menace of flooding in the Geraldine and Temuka districts.

Mr Semple said the methods adopted to control rivers throughout New Zealand in past years savoured of a comic opera with a multiplicity of river boards, and it would need to be tackled at once on a scientific basis. The cost would amount to something like £6,000,000, but this huge figure had to be faced if a saving of thousands of acres of valuable land now endangered was to be accomplished. The nation could not bear the whole of this cost and 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 remedy for, erosion was fully established. There was only one way to ascertain the cause. That was through a survey and a study of each river and the surrounding country by qualified engineers. A staff of these men would be appointed to concentrate on the preparation of a national plan for combating erosion. Such a 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 on which to begin the great battle to save farm lands being washed into the sea.