DRAINAGE PROBLEM

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 62, 5 August 1938, Page 3

DRAINAGE PROBLEM

SERIOUS FOR FARMERS DRAINAGEIBOARDS’ DILEMMA The huge task before the Drainage Boards of the district in regard to the drainage of the low-lying lands was discussed at length at a conference of Boards at the Borough Council Chambers on Saturday last. Mr A. B. Morton, who Avas appointed to the chair, said the meeting was called for an informal round-table discussion of the future policy of tho drainage boards. There was an agitation afoot that the boards should be merged in the County, but he thought such a step not advisable. Present members knew more about the local conditions, and their work was given gratis. The vital q uestion before them now was whether the Boards could do the work with the limited scope they had, or appeal to the Government to ease matters. In his opinion the cost would be too heavy for the separate Boards. Amalgamation might be considered, and a scheme evolved, whereby the Government could be approached. Mr Morton said he had communicated with Mr Furkett (Engineer) some time ago, and an aerial survey of the area Avould cost £SO. A more comprehensive survey would probably cost £IOO.

Mr M. G. Cruickshank said the River Board had spent a lot of

money to relieve the situation, but they were in the same position as before. The flax mill owners occupied practically the whole of the river bank, and if thev could devise a scheme and not be faced with large compensation costs, something might be done. Several schemes had been turned down by the engineers. Cuts had been made, and for a time these had been successful, but the heavy timber on the riverbed had prevented satisfactory scouring. Maketu was the natural outlet for the Kaituna River, with Maketu lagoon as the receiving station.

Mr N. Griffin referred to the unsatisfactory results obtained from the cuts on the Kaituna. The most feasible cut would be through the sand hills at Papamoa. As far as compensation was concerned, the improvement from flax lands (which were practically worked out) to grasslands would be sufficient compensation. The assistance of the Government was necessary if anything of a permanent nature was to be done. They were in the same position as Rangitaiki was 25 years ago in regard to an outlet.

Mr Cruickshank, while agreeing to a certain extent with Mr Griffin, said the Maoris at Maketu had to be considered. Even if the outlet was shifted, the outlet at Maketu had to be kept open, as the Maori depended for his livelihood, to a large extent, on fishing. Sanction from the Marine Department to have outlet closed would have to be obtained, and he did not think this would be given. Duplicate cuts near Fords would, in his opinion, alleviate the position. “The longer we waited, the lower the land subject to flooding was sinking, the heavy rainfall of the year affecting the area,” con eluded Mr Cruickshank.

Mr J. Ford agreed that duplicate cuts, and a stop bank from Maketu Road to the Kaituna bridge would probably overcome the difficulties. An ordinary dredge and caterpiller tractor would do the job.

Mr Griffin: “‘lt is like fiddling while Rome is burning’ ; send a deputation to Wellington and place the position before the Minister.”

A resolution to this effect was accordingly moved and carried, Messrs A. B. Morton and M. G. Cruickshank being appointed to wait on the Minister at Wellington.