NEW WATER RACE OPPOSED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21992, 16 January 1937, Page 12

NEW WATER RACE OPPOSED

RANGITATA DIVERSION SCHEME

ASHBUUTON FARMERS FEAR SEEPAGE

Strong criticism of the scheme of the Public Works Department to construct a huge water race from the Rangitata river, which will serve all the irrigation needs of the Ashburton County," was expressed by Mr W. T. Lill at a meeting of the Mid-Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday afternoon. He moved that the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) be asked not to proceed with the work until further investigation was made and the opinion of the residents of the districts was obtained, but after a long discussion it was decided to obtain a report on the possibility of seepage from the race.

"If the Rangitata is tapped, 40,000 acres of the best land on the south side of the Ashburton river will be ruined," said Mr Lill. Men who had spent thousands of pounds on their land would be completely ruined., He had had 60 years of experience, and this was better than any amount of theory. Some of the land :n his district had cost £ls to £2O an acre to drain.

"If you are going to put water through there the days of growing wheat are done," said Mr Lill. He added that the value of land on the northern side of the Ashburton river had been doubled because of the water race system, but if an irrigation scheme were introduced on the other' side of the river the result .would be different. Mr Lill said that it would be a cruelty that men on the good land on, the south side oS the river should be drowned out.

Mr F. Frampton said he could not support Mr Lill because he did not think the water taken from the Rangitata at the top of the country would affect the land lower down. He was satisfied that" the race, which would be made on a uniform fall, would not soak through. Mr Lill said he was not against the Government taking twice as much water if it were necessary. The method that was was nothing short of idiocy.

"We are very fortunate that the Government has decided to spend £ 130,000 to give us a supply of water for the Canterbury plains," said Mr J. Carr.

Mr H. C. B. Withell suggested that, for the good of the scheme, the question of seepage, which Mr Lill had raised, should be investigated by experts and a reply made by the Minister.

Mr Lill agreed to alter his motion to this effect. Mr W. R. Hammond said that a motion was not necessary at all, the scheme having been considered from every angle. The motion was carried, witli two dissentients.