IRRIGATION WORKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 31, 7 February 1928, Page 16

IRRIGATION WORKS.

ALLEGED MISMANAGEMENT. DEMAND FOR INVESTIGATION. (By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") \\ ELLINGTON, this day. Criticism of the management of tlio Central Otago irrigation sehemc and the demand lor a Royal commission ol investigation were brought under the notice of Mr. lurkert, Chief Engineer and Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department bv vour correspondent. Mr. Furkert stated that before the petition was circulated a copy was sent to the Department. lie was not in a position to say whether the Government would take action, that being a matter for the Minister of Public Works. However, publication of a number of allegations justified a prompt reply. Dealing with a statement that the Department's engineers had grave] v under-estimated the costs of the works, Mr. Juirkert said no doubt construction which reached over the war period and after the war boom, did cost more, and this was the only reason. It was a more serious matter to say that the amount of water available had been overestimated. That was absolutelv incorrect. We have, always had the amount ot water leckoned upon, and a shade more. E\ en in spite of the dry period we have had all the. supply we thought we would have. It is an easy thing to say that supeivision of the races had been neglected. The fact is that they have burst three times, but no quantity of supervision would have prevented 'that in the rough character of country through which Hie races arc constructed. It happens now in the main trunk country to the railway after twenty years of running and a high degree of eflieiency iu maintenance, and it has happened in the Manawatu Oorge after even a longer period. Yet nobody suggests that the Railway Departments maintenance and supervision is inadequate because this occurs. It is alleged that the racemen are overloaded with work and responsibility. That is (he first, we have heard of it." The Under-Secretary declined to discuss the recent dismissal of the district engineer for Otago.