RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 6

RIVER IMPROVEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Your leader in yesterday’s Star ” is quite in accord with xny views. Having preached the vital importance of river improvement to this city and surrounding counties for some time, and put. into practice to a small extent certain river improvements, the public now see that my idea of a Kiver Conservancy Board would have been- better than relegating the matter to the Drainage Board, a board that is not particularly enamoured with the work of river improvement. Still, wo must admit that a greatstep forward was made as a result of this propaganda., and the whole of the local bodies have consented to tin* Drainage Board rating their districts for the purpose of improving both the Avon and the Heathcote Rivers, which cau only be done by dredging and putting in two or three weirs, and possibly a lock near New Brighton. Had a River Conservancy Board been formed and this power given to them, there is no doubt that the row- „ ing clubs would have had by now a splendid stretch of river dredged and plenty of deep water, and there would have been a weir near the tea kiosk bridge. As it is, the rowing people must content themselves with what they have, and by next season there is no doubt the new Drainage Board will have got to work. As to whether fc-hev will seize the and render to- the people the service that they should remains to be seen. T hope, in a later, issue, to set out the great possibilities ahead of this river improvement scheme. The sun-scorched river banks and Victoria. Square are another tribute to our awful apathy. We have water in abundance and electricity in plenty to do the job,, and failing these we have, fire brigades, usually with plenty of time on hand.—l am. etc., R. B. OWEN, Organiser River Improvement Fund. Christchurch, January 10.