IRRIGATION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20551, 20 May 1932, Page 15

IRRIGATION.

INVESTIGATION PRAISED. FARMERS' UNION IN FAVOUR OF ENQUIRY. Farmers took the opportunity offered by the annual conference of the North Canterbury district branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union held yesterday to voice a unanimous vote of appreciation to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce's Irrigation Committee for its interest shown in investigating the possibility of increasing tho productivity and fertility of sections of the Canterbury Plain 3by irrigation methods. The Darfiold branch of the Union forwarded a remit: That the Chamber of Commerce be commended for the work it has undertaken in connexion with investigation of irrigation in Canterbury, and that farmers be urged to assist in whatever manner possible. Report by Mr G. C. Warren. Mr G. C. Warren, tho Union's. representative on the Irrigation Investigation Committee of tho Chamber of Commerce, reported that during the past year the committee had been mainly engaged in securing data of various schemes, particularly of several private irrigation schemes, in New Zealand. Investigation had been made as to localities that would lend themselves readily to irrigation, in regard to availability of water, suitability of soil, both in fertility and porosity, and as to whethor, any ground was adapted to the distribution of water. Arrangements were being made at present with farmers for plots for experimental purposes, tho object being to securo a docent-sizod plot in each county on which to conduct experiment with different kinds of crops. Most of the coun- • ties had been approached by the committee asking foi a supply of water with which to conduct the experiments, and the response had been mainly favourable. The Irrigation Committee, the report added, was arranging a series of lectures throughout the province, on the subject of irrigation, the first to be hold at Darfield on May 30th. Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., was to bo the speaker. The most thorough investigation possible was being made, and some considerable time must olapso boforo any definite knowledge of tho advisability of any irrigation scheme could become known. Mr Warren also took tho opportunity of announcing that if any farmer saw his way clear to extend facilities to the committee bo that a trial could bo carried out, it would be greatly appreciated. Mr G. H. Parrish . (Oxford): How many years do you think it will be before it will be decided whether irrigation is going to bo successful? Mr Warren: Tho fullest investigation possible will be carried out before any scheme is advised. It will not be any "hare-brained" one! Tho Chamber of Commerco is carrying out the most thorough investigation possible. When it is said that it would take two inches of water ovory ten days to satisfy land .treated it was quite clear that there was not the least chance of irrigating tho whole of Canterbury Plains on such a basis. There was not the water. Further, such a scheme was never intended. Tho intention was rather that each farmer should be able to have one patch j of irrigated crop land on Ms farm. For instance, any farmer would have been I glad of 20 acres of lucerne during the I drought of last season. Increase of 300 per cent. Claimed. Mr Parrish said that he was sure that irrigation, whoro practicable, would rosult in an increase of production of 300 per cent, at least. He had seen the effects of irrigation in New Zealand and Australia, and the results were astonishing. In one case ho had seen rape three feet high in an' irrigated field, with rape on land nearby—not irrigated—only two inches high. Mr H. Oliver (Hororata): In the Coalgate district there is one farmer who •will irrigato 400 acres by pumping water, if he can secure enough water. He is at present carrying out preliminary investigations. Mr Warren pointed out that in Otago an irrigation scheme had become ineffective in four years, despite promising results in the first year. That was becauso tho land was not sufficiently porous. The indications from that were that any experiments with -irrigation should be extended over a lengthy period in order to make certain of results. The president, Mr Colin Mcintosh,' said that he considered that it would be wrong to gp in for a lot of capital expenditure at this junction, but experimental plots were a very good idea. The Chamber of Commerce was to bo congratulated for tho interest it was taking in the possibility of irrigation in Canterbury districts as a means of heightening fertility. A hearty vote of thanks to the Irrigation Committee of the Chamber of Commerce for its work of investigation being effected and which had already been effected was carried unanimously.