IRRIGATION PLAN SUPPORTED

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 7

IRRIGATION PLAN SUPPORTED

SCHEME FOR THREE COUNTIES

FARMERS’ MEETING AT SWANNANOA

Support for the setting up of a rating district and for proposals for financing the capital costs and maintenance and operating costs of an irrigation scheme for the Oxford. Eyre, and Rangiora Counties was given by a meeting of 25 farmers at Swannanoa last evening, convened by the Canterbury Progress League. About 18 months ago all the farmers in the area agreed to take irrigation water on the Winchmore scheme terms (4s an acre foot).

“We are well past the stage of doubting the value of irrigation,” said Mr M. Spencer Bower, chairman ol the area irrigation committee. “We know that under careful management, supervision, and farming irrigation will pay dividends, and, in some cases, very handsome dividends. “The new pi oposals were revolutionary. The rainfall in the area was not overabundant and a supplementary water supply was needed to give an assured farming calendar. The collective income of Canterbury farmers could be increased by millions, said Mr W- F. McArthur (chairman of the Progress League’s irrigation committee). Those millions were now running down the rivers. The best way to face a recession was to double production; he believed it could be trebled. The whole of the cost of water could be saved by the indefinite lasting of irrigated pastures Subdivision Question “What is the attitude on the subdivision of large areas?” asked a farmer, “I don’t think that that is really a part of the beginning of an irrigation scheme,” replied the Acting-District Commissioner of Works (Mr F. D. Grant). “Subdivision must ultimately be a part of it. Obviously if you are going to get bigger returns, you are going to cut up your land. Most of you would not like to have all the worries of big business through quadrupling the output of your farm.” For the Oxford area, the water would probably be drawn from the Waimakariri river at the gorge, but the intake had not yet been examined, said Mr Grant. He thought it would be successfully shown that irrigation would now be responsible for underground water problems. Mr H. M. Burgin said the farms in the area were economic. Irrigation would require new methods of farming. On a big farm, the farmers would be faced with costs of housing and labour. He did not believe in permanent pastures. No farmer could afford not to take the water at the price, and he would be forced into the scheme. His father had said any old fool could make two blades of grass grow where one had grown, but it took a good farmer to make the second blade pay. A national aspect was whether the owner of an extensive farm should be allowed not to irrigate, said Mr McArthur. In his own economic interests and for peace of mind, he would want to unload his irrigated land, especially if he received a very satisfactory price. “Is there enough water in the Waimakariri to irrigate all the land?” asked a farmer.

“Ample to irrigate the areas on this side and the other,” replied Mr McArthur. The river flow was highest in the summer, when 15,000 cusecs were available. Resolutions similar to those made at earlier meetings at Dunsandel and Kirwee were adopted.