MID-CANTERBURY IRRIGATION

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26832, 10 September 1952, Page 10

MID-CANTERBURY IRRIGATION

PUBLIC MEETING AT PENDARVES

DEPUTATION TO MEET MR HOLLAND

A committee consisting of farmers and representatives of interested organisations in the Ashburton county will be set up to approach the jPrime Minister (Mr Holland) to get irrigation of the Rakaia-Seafield district started as soon as possible. This was decided at a meeting which 47 persons, attended in Pendarves last evening.

The chairman (Mr R. D. Buckingham) said that after the AshburtonLyndhurst scheme and the partly completed Hinds scheme, this would be the third scheme in the county. The area had been surveyed, and the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) had said that as soon as materials and labour became available the scheme would be started.

However, pressure was being applied in North Canterbury by the Canterbury Progress League for an irrigation scheme from Rakaia to Oxford, Mr Buckingham said. “It looks as if we have run the hare down, and now they are coming in for the kill.” The Mayor of Ashburton <Mr E. C. Bathurst) said the borough council was 100 per cent, behind the scheme, but there was no hope of it coming to anything until it was found out how many farmers would take the water.

The scheme was supported by Mr F. C. Smith (Ashburton Chamber of Commerce) and Mr J. P. McDonnell (Ashburton Returned Services’ Association).

“The Empire is short of foodstuffs,” said Mr A. A. McDonald (Borough Council). “You know what irrigation can do as regards production. There is your case for the Government.” Mr P. Whatman (Department of Agriculture) said' that a document with the names of farmers guaranteeing to take a certain amount of water for five years would count most. Mr W. Wilkinson, of Chertsey, said the Government would take no notice of the scheme, until 90 per cent, of the farmers in the area had pressed for it.

The meeting decided to approach the Ashburton County Council, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Federated Farmers, the Ashburton Electric Power Board, and other organisations for support. , It was also decided to try to canvass the district to obtain the signatures of farmers.