DITCHES ON COUNTY ROADS

Southland Times, Issue 23852, 24 June 1939, Page 5

DITCHES ON COUNTY ROADS

FARMERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTAIN MAINTENANCE

A ruling on the responsibilities of farmers in the clearing of roadside ditches in the Southland County was given by the council in a letter received by the Southland executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. It was decided to ask branches for an expression of opinion about the position.

The letter from the council stated that where ditches on road reserves were used by farmers for farm drainage, the farmers whose properties fronted such ditches were responsible for their maintenance. Where ditches had been cut by the council so that roads might benefit by the lowering of the water level on the road reserve, then the council accepts responsibility for the clearing of the ditches. Miles of ditches had been cut on road reserves in the county in the. original road construction, and in the majority of cases these ditches had eventually been used by the farmers for land drainage. The council accepted no responsibility for these ditches, and accepted responsibility only in certain isolated cases in the county where it was essential for the benefit of the road that the roadside ditch should be kept open and maintained in a clean condition.

The letter meant that farmers would have to clear the roadside ditches which in most cases were used for farm drainage, said Mr A. H. McLean. The reply was very unsatisfactory. Mr A. R. Johnston suggested that copies of the letter be distributed to branches of the union for an expression of opinion. This would produce information of the effect of the reply.