RIVER TRUST ASKS FOR AID.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 7

RIVER TRUST ASKS FOR AID.

NEEDS URGENT WORKS TO CONTROL ASHLEY. An appeal for immediate financial assistance in order that the trust can carry out urgent works for the removal of flood dangers was made to the Prime Minister this morning by a deputation from the Ashley River Trust. It was explained that since its formation a few months ago the trust has had no funds whatever, and it has no pros-

-■'■i’il! ’ ' 1 IIIIIT'ZZTZTT pects of obtaining any revenue until about September, when about £IOO will be received from reserves. In the meantime it was necessary that certain urgent works should be carried out. After hearing the deputation the Prime Minister promised to make an advance of £SOO, which will be deducted from future amounts due to the trust by way of subsidy. The llon'D. Buddo, M.P., introduced the deputation, whicli consisted of Mr F. Langbein, District Public Works Engineer, who is chairman of the trust, and Messrs F. Horrall. W. Stalker and J. D. Wylie, members of the trust. Mr H. C. Lusty, Assistant District Railway Engineer, was present on behalf of the Railway Department. NO FUNDS IN HAND. Mr Buddo explained that the trust had no funds in hand, and it had not yet been able to strike a rate because the classification was not completed. Consequently it had no opportunity of doing anything to the river banks. Floods were not expected for another two or three' months, and a good deal of protective work would be carried out in that time without entailing much engineering expenditure. If the Prime Minister could see his way to give the trust something substantial by way of a grant it would help it out of its difficulties. The question was whether the work was to be started now or to be delayed for a year. It was estimated that £6OOO or £7OOO would be required. Mr Coates: What has the trust got now ? Mr Horrell: We haven’t really got a copper, and have nothing in sight except what we will get from our reserves. Mr Coates: What will the work cost? COST OF COMPLETE SCHEME. Mr Horrell replied that the complete scheme would cost anything up to £20,000 or £30,000. The scheme had not been worked out, because no survey had been made yet. The trust had been using some money which the Sef-ton-Ashley Board had had on hand, but it had no legal right to that money, which would have to be returned. The money was the balance left after the trust had taken over from the board. When the trust came into being it had no money, but it had had to incur certain liabilities. The cost of the election had been about £125. Mr Coates said he was quite, prepared to consider the question of granting a subsidy against the raising of a loan. Mr Horrell suggested a straight-out grant. Mr Stalker : If something is not done within the next six months the position might be serious. WORK REQUIRED TO BE DONE. Mr Horrell said that a couple of spans at the lower traffic bridge were blocked up and needed clearing out. Mr Langbein said that some work must be done immediately. Mr Coates: Who’s going to pay for it? Mr Buddo: That is what wc are here for. Mr Langbein said that it was necessary to clear out the river at the traffic bridge on the Main North Road, and also to clear willows out of the riverbed. Mr Coates: How much will that cost? Mr Langbein: I suppose an immediate expenditure of about £SOO is nccesMr Wylie said that two years ago £4OO had been spent in taking willows Mr Coates: Supposing we give you a £1 for £1 subsidy? Mr Buddo: We haven’t a penny. Mr Coates said that the only other alternative was to find so much money as part of a subsidy towards the main scheme. ADVANCE OF £SOO. After further discussion Mr Coates said he would agree to a £1 for £1 subsidy, because he understood the urgency of the work, and he would give them £SOO at present. But it had to be understood that the trust would have to make the money good later I In reply to a question about the ! railwaj’ line, Mr Coates said he was not 1 concerned about the railway. Mr Langbein mentioned that there must be a complete survey made of the river. Mr Coates said that it had been represented to him that certain work was imperative, and there was danger, and the trust had no more}- to carry out any work. He was simply lending the money for that work. Mr Buddo said he was positively sure that the position could be dealt with.

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