Discussion. Land Drainage in England and Wales.

Abstract

DiscussionMr J. V. Spddhg said that he wished to speak on the question of maintenance.When the catchment boards were set up in 1930, in general, river and drainage systems were in a very neglected state, largely because the riparian interests concerned could not meet the very high cost of maintenance, which tended to exceed the value of any direct benefits.After 1930 the catchment boards were formed with funds, sometimes inadequate, which, however, were wider and more general in their incidence, so they were able to try to catch up with the arrears of maintenance. There had been a tendency, once having caught up with maintenance, to forget that maintenance must be continued if rivers were to maintain their efficiency.Engineers naturally preferred spectacular schemes so, being human, they tended to concentrate on new and important works, leaving maintenance