VIGOROUS POLICY PRAISED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 12

VIGOROUS POLICY PRAISED

ENGINEERING IN NEW ZEALAND DISTINGUISHED VISITOR'S VIEWS / Captain A. M. Hamilton, of the : Eoyal Engineers, a New Zealander who is widely known for his cn- [ gineering work and for his book, i "Road Through Kurdistan," has rcl turned to Wellington on his way to t England after spending his lurflough in Christcluirch, his former ' home. Captain Hamilton has been ! favourably impressed with the proi gress of engineering works in NewZealand since he left, the country in 1926. He has been particularly imj pressed by the developments of pubI lie works, and of these he has found i the irrigation schemes the most in'teresting. "In a country like New Zealand with a rather unreliable rainfall 'irrigation would, in the course of a few years, greatly increase the productive capacity and wealth of the [country," he said. "It is widely ' known that in Egypt, Iraq, and parts ■of India the very existence of the people depends upon irrigation." Captain Hamilton continued. "Crude as the methods sometimes are, the resulting fertility of the soil is surprising. In parts of those countries [where large-scale irrigation has been introduced the cropping and 'grazing capacity of the land has i been increased in an astounding ■way. In such schemes three ser- . vices are generally given to the cul- ' tivator. First the land is irrigated 'with the silt-laden water, then the isilt is allowed time to settle out [upon the land, and finally the ex[cess water is carefully drained away 'so that the land wiil not become marshy or salty. "These three services," Captain Hamilton said, "would have to be 'considered with the requirements of the land and the irrigation and drainage possibilities in different parts of New Zealand." , Modern Machinery ! ' Captain Hamilton was pleased to see that modern labour-saving machinery for rock and earth excavation work had been introduced into New Zealand. Even in comparatively backward countries like Iraq and Palestine the major public works were being done with such (modern types of power graders, 'earth elevators, and tractors, as had (been introduced into New Zealand J recently, he said. The choice of ma- ! chines was restricted to machines of ', American manufacture, as there no English machines of the equivalent type made yet. "As a visiting engineer it is exjtremely gratifying for me to see the vigorous policy for improvement of communications and the developjment of all the natural resources of > k the country," said Captain Hamilton. j ßoads, he thought, had been greatly [improved, and the hydro-electrical j development had been most note- ! worthy.

t He also referred to the success of (New Zealand engineers overseas. [Two young New Zealanders, Messrs F. R. O'Connor and J. L. Ward, who 'had both been on the staff of the I Wellington City Council, were now ; in the Near East. Mr O'Connor was municipal engineer at Jaffa in | Palestine, and Mr Ward was attached to the Iraq Irrigation Departi ment. Other New Zealanders Cap'tain Hamilton referred to were the [Nairn brothers, who, he said, were I still making improvements to their | famous Damascus-Bagdad desert • transport service. Captain Hamilton said he thought the Iraq Govern- ; ment was genuinely grateful for the i work which British engineers had 1 done in their courtry, and although the mandate had ceased some years ago, several British engineers were still employed there. In conclusion Captain Hamilton said: "In my opinion the standard of engineering in New Zealand is as high as can be found in any country in the world."