IRRIGATION IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26441, 7 June 1951, Page 3

IRRIGATION IN CANTERBURY

NEW SURVEYS TO BE MADE AREA BETWEEN RAKAIA AND WAIMAKARIRI Advice that preliminary surveys for the proposed irrigation scheme between the Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers would begin soon, was received by the Canterbury Progress League at a meeting last evening, trom the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman). The scheme was proposed by the league last year and, after meetings held in several districts, a petition from many of the farmers interested was sent to the Minister of Works.

“The petitioners may rest assured that the necessary surveys and investigations will be carried out for additional irrigation schemes in Canterbury. just as soon as the staff can be made available,” said the Minister. Survey staff had been at a premium for some years, but the Works Department had succeeded in securing from Britain a limited number of junior engineers, suitable for survey work. “It is anticipated that some of these new appointees, who will be arriving in the next few months, will be available 'to undertake the surveys and investigations for irrigation schemes in Canterbury,” said Mr Goosman. “Although it seems possible that the survey work may be put in hand at an early date with the limited resources available to the Government at the present time very serious consideration must be given to the question of priority” h? continued. The Minister felt that the Government must consider first the areas of country, also requiring irrigation, which were near the Rangitata diversion race, in which a large sum of money had already been spent. This race formed the headworks for both the Barr Hill and the Tinwald-Valetta schemes. “So far as priority is concerned, there is much to be said in favour of these two schemes being next undertaken,” added the Minister.

“This is a wholly satisfactory letter,” said the president (Mr W. F. McArthur). It was thought that it would be some years before the WaimakaririRakaia scheme would be started, although he had been given a personal assurance from the Minister that if there were sufficient supporters of the scheme it would be given due consideration by the Government. “In my opinion, the assurance received in the Minister’s letter is as much as we can expect,” added Mr McArthur. It was decided to reply to the Minister, expressing "thanks for a most satisfactory reply to the league’s representations.”