PUBLIC OPINION

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 July 1950, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

(Letters tor this column should be brief The views expressed are the views of the writers, not of this newspaper Where a nom de plume Is used the writer must enclose name and address, preferably on a separate Br>«vt of paper to that on which the letter Is writ ten. On no account will letters over a nom de plume be published unless the name and address of the writer Is furnished to the editor. Brevity and clarity are the two main essentials looked for in this column). Cherrybank Blockage Sir, —The derailment of a goods train last night at Cherrybank is a disgrace and a glaring case of lack of responsibility on the part of the Ministry of Works. And it is the opinion of the writer that the circumstances call for a Ministerial inquiry at least. Why in the name of common sense should the Railways Department have to risk the lives of passengers and train crew because the Ministry of Works had blundered and ignored the warnings of local residents about this particular danger spot created by the Works Department. Now sir, one would expect after two previous washouts at this place, caused by a short built-up road blocking the natural flood waters, that the authorities would rectify the position and save the country considerable expense and possible loss of life.—l am, etc., D. M. McGREGOR. Okoia, 17/7/50. The District Engineer of the Ministry of Works makes the following comment on the above letter:--“On behalf of the District Civil Engineer, N.Z. Railways, and myself, I have to thank you for an opportunity to comment as follows on Mr. McGregor’s letter: “When the matter was referred to the Ministry of Works and Railways Department the definite opinion was expressed that the crossing had only a very minor effect on the washout. “Records show that prior to the construction of the crossing the railway had been inundated at this point on several occasions. In 1907 Mr. Boyd McGregor wrote to the Mataongaonga Road Board, pointing out the damage done to roads, railway, and other properties in the Matarawa Valley area, and made proposals for alleviating the recurring damage to the railway in the locality of the present crossing. “As a consequence of the flood in February of this year the Railways Department, raised the line through this locality some nine inches. “The flooding of the Matarawa Stream was the subject, of a conference between settlers, City Council, Wanganui County Council, Ministry of Works, and Railways Department on August 30, 1948, when it was agreed that engineers from the above should meet and confer with the settlers on the ground. This conference took place on October 7 and 14 1948, when all were renresented, and it was generally agreed bv those prerent that the present waterway o p the Mht°rav.’a Strom was not lar**o enough to carry flnod waters even if the stream were cleaned out. “As is no catchment board, it was considered that a dr.amage board should be formed, or the county should undertake the work, but since then nothing has been heard of the . proposal end the recent flooding was to be expected.