EROSION OF RIVERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3995, 30 July 1915, Page 3

EROSION OF RIVERS.

A MATTER OF URGENCY. CENTRAL COUNCIL TO BE ESTABLISHMENT. j By Telegraph—Special Correspondent | \Y E 1 . LINCTOX. J uly 29• j An interesting discussion of the , need for taking some etiWtive stops j to prevent damage by erosion <> j rivers took place m the House <• i Representatives yesterday. I Ln a recent report on the subject, j Mr Eurkert. an engineer in the L ub- i lie- Works Department, recommended j thot a council he set up to deal with , tne prevention of damage by flooded, rivers and the control of river.-, m flood time. . ~ . ... Replying to* sv rjiiostion »>> M.\ V> • IT Ei‘"'id. the Minister for Rub hr Works said that this report would be laid upon the table of the House ami that the Government- was considering the question of establishing such a Council as Mr Eurkert recommended. Air AV. H. Field, referring to the Munster's reply, said he. was very glad that it was favorable. as the question was one of supreme import unco in verv many parts of New /ma-i land. The" control of rivers by local River Boards was likelv to prove in~ oH'eetive and cumbersome and. tuitliermore, there was no work at which monev could be wasted mnu'! freolv and by which more positive harm could he done by amateurs than at this work of controlling rivers Generally, the Government was most, unwilling to spend money on the pi otcction of private property, but he would point out that'the Governmentwas very largely to blame for the P'e-sc-nt state of affairs in that they had permitted the denudation ol the forest growth on the steep hillsides !vt the" headwaters of rivers and The Hon. AY. Eraser (Minister to. Public Works) said that the subject was one. of the most important any ■Government could take up and, it ' ' were not taken up now, there was goin- to be very great trouble m luluu in controlling rivers. A hen floods rvcurred- now in certain rivers the amount of valuable land washed eA *'• and the damage done to roads an bridges was very heavy indeed a ! this damage would be very m i greater in future unless the n. ttci was dealt with in a con.prel ens.v. - manner. AY hen the lion, gentleman • sa ;,j || lP t the Government objectedi t .sTHUiding money on protecting P rl% ; 1 ' : nron-ortv. lie onlv stated ball pt tin I facts. AYhat ho "had always said-was j tb-’t it was the bounden . duty ol i evOrv •man to j>rotect liis own pi<> ! party and, if Mr Field wished to see ' the ‘owner of property relieved ot . ! responsibility for protecting Ins o« ' property, he, would be disappointed. M>- Field: I don't expect thatMr Fraser said that no Government could relieve owners pi » I " , ,sponsihility, but no more question could, be taken mi ])V G ( vcH-nmevit. He believed it Mvthi intention ot the Minister for lntorn.il Aff c.irs to introduce legislation this session to deal with the ouest.on in comprobensive wav by the _ s merit of a council or something of in sort He repeated that the question was one with which the House would have to deal. He -admitted that the I Government in New Zealand had not An uie past given- enough coimuleta | tion to the denudation of hills ospeciany in steep gorges. AY hen tn forest growth was shifted from such country, floods and damage were inMr li. G. Ell. and Mr A\ . D. S. j mYc Rom-M both expem.ed satistaeI tioii with the Governmen Va intention, t agreeing with the Minister that the j mall or w a boi'Mivuug ono of I viuo ui v sji il <'vr ZoalnuvL