IRRIGATION FOR CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22851, 26 October 1939, Page 7

IRRIGATION FOR CANTERBURY

A MAJOR SCHEME

ENDORSED

NORTH OF RAKAFA RIYER

WORK NEXT ON LIST

A promise'that an irrigation scheme for the Canterbury Plains between the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers would be undertaken as soon as the Downlands water supply scheme and the Rangitata irrigation scheme were finished was made yesterday by the Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple). Replying to a deputation from county councils, Mr Semple said that irrigation would be speeded up. It was felt that most of the land between the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers could be irrigated, but that the problems would have to be first investigated, said Mr P. R. Climie, secretary of the Canterbury Progress League. He expressed appreciation of the Minister’s proposals and also of the friendly co-operation of the District Public Works Engineer (Mr F. Langbein). He said the prime mover. Mr D. W. Westenra, of the Selwyn County Council, was unable to be present. An assurance that the counties were in earnest in their desire to have irrigation was given by Mr H. C. Townshend, chairman of the Malvern County Council. They realised that irrigation was coming. In the county in specially dry times, the water supply from the Kowhai for stock purposes had to be turned alternately on and off for two days, and below Darfield the courses began to dry out. In former years the Malvern County appeared to have a good water supply, but the cutting off of the supply in the last three or four years for two days at a time meant that the lower end of the district was in difficulties, said Mr A. P. Chamberlain. At times those parts were without water for six or eight days. It was obvious that the County Council could not undertake a watering scheme, but it would give every assistance. In the early days, when Canterbury was without water, 10,000 acres could be rented for £5. Without. water, the country would go back, yet with water the province could grow anything. The Minister: I am sure of that. “You may think we are contrary,” said Mr A. Anderson, of the Ellesmere County Council. “Last time, we asked you for a survey to get the water out of the county, and now we are asking you to bring it in.” The difficulty in getting water was when the flow was on the southern side of the river. There might, not be a large area in the county suitable for irrigation, because of the low-lying land. Outlet Question Mr J. S. Simpson (chairman of Hhe Springs County Council) said the Springs County, was dependent for water for stock bn the counties above. The council was still diffident about an irrigation scheme, the main concern' being the outlet.. If no outlet to lake or sea was provided the results would be disastrous. Mr Semple; The whole scheme depends on the water getting away. Irrigation would not be beneficial if it caused areas to be waterlogged. The whole scheme would have to be scientifically and thoroughly examined, and the outlet assured before we did anything. We have enough flooding problems without creating more. “With that assurance, we would welcome irrigation,” commented Mr Simpson. .. “It is good to hear practical men talking about practical problems,” replied the Minister. “I would rather talk to'practical men for five minutes than to theorists for one month, for those people drive,, me furious.”

Cheap Construction Data of irrigation schemes the world over were available. Increased population forced countries to increase production, but the wonderful results had been obtained, with few exceptions, at a tremendous cost. The Canterbury scheme wpuld provide the cheapest constructed irrigation works in the world, and would also supply water at the cheapest rate; in other countries the price of water ranged from 7s to £2 a foot. The necessity for a free escape for the water after it had been used on the ground was stressed by the Minister, who said Canterbury was fortunate that it did not possess the retentive sub strata of other countries, which caused ponding and the souring of the land. Conditional on an outlet for the water being found, the Canterbury Plains lent themselves for irrigation better ihan any other country. In no place had the results been more staggering than they were on the completed schemes at Redclifi' and the _ Levels. “When the Rangitata irrigation scheme and the Dowlands water supply schemes are finished, we will have the best of plant available,” said Mr Semple. “We will not keep it idle. The machines can be diverted to this area, the one I think should be tackled next. We may be able to divert some machinery before the other jobs are finished, but in the meantime we will endeavour to finish the survey. The difficulty is the shortage of surveyors. “We have to make certain that we do not make a harvests for the land gambler, the fellow who will _ get in for his swag, and leave nothing. I have a set on the farmer who farms the farmer. I won’t do anything for him, but this country has to increase 'it.- population and its production or it will perish.” . . Satisfaction that the Minister was following the right lines with his irrigation policy was expressed by Mr Climie, in thanking Mr Semple for his assurances.