NORTHERN NEEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 85, 11 April 1933, Page 3

NORTHERN NEEDS.

MINISTERS ON TOUR.

WATER SHORTAGE PROBLEM.

CRISIS AT WHENUANUI.

(By Telegraph.—Ovm Correspondent.)

DARGAVILLE, Monday.

In the course of their tour in North Auckland the Minister of Lands, Hon. E. A. Ransom, and the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Masters, visited the Matakohe School after lunch to-day. They were received by Mr. Rodney Coatei', chairman of the Otamatea County Council, and members of the Matakohe School Committee, who discussed with Mr. Masters the cost of the carriage of children to school.

At Ruawai Mr. Ransom met a. private deputation from the Raupo Drainage Board. Mr. Masters went to the Ruawai Consolidated School, where he was met by tlio chairman of the school committee, Mr. E. K. Haines, the teachers, and about UOO pupils. After a brief address the Minister inspected the school appointments. The Ruawai Consolidated School, eaid the Minister, was known all over New Zealand as one of the most successful in the school consolidation scheme. Its success was paving the way for more consolidations.

Mr. Ransom was met by a deputation of between 30 and 40 settlers, mostly from the Whenuanui district, when the question of providing water for that area was discussed. Mr. Humes pointed out the hardships under which settlers are suffering, not only through low prices, but also through shortage of water for their stock. He said that when the settlers, who were mostly soldier ' settlers and Crown tenants, took over their sections there was a surplus of surface water. Now their water supply was both short and tainted.

Mr. W. S. Wallace said the settlers' resources were exhausted. Cattle Lose Condition. Mr. John Irwin said that whereas in the Ruawai area there was a good supply of artesian water, the Whenuanui settlers were barely able to keep their cattlo in condition. The land would become valueless for dairying unless there was a scheme for a supply of water.

A settler informed the Minister that ho was driving his dairy herd four miles every day, which was taking too much out of the stock.

Mr. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Lands for North Auckland, in answer to the Minister, said that settlers had been on the block for 12 or 13 years. The position this year had been accentuated by the dry summer and autumn. Water was not to be had by boring, but whether a supply could be obtained from a watershed or from boring on the foreshore he did not know. It seemed to be a question for a water supply engineer to decide. It might be better to consider a scheme for obtaining a better water supply from the hills above Dargaville or from the lakes; across tho river. Either would be an expensive proposition, and one for an expert.

Minister in Reply. Sir. Ransom, in reply, said that the position was particularly unfortunate. The Department had generally found that where they drained water from an area such aa Ruawai, water to be got by boring was of poor quality, and the question of a supply of good water had to be gone into. He agreed with the manager of the factory that they must have tho very best of water supplies if they were to supply good dairy products. Tho question put before him was not a simple one. The question had been considered by his colleague, Rt. Hon. J. (i. Coatcs, and he promised tho deputation that lie would go into the matter thoroughly with their member.