IRRIGATION IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 8

IRRIGATION IN CANTERBURY

FIGURES QUOTED BY MINISTRY MR GOOSMAN MEETS PROGRESS LEAGUE Ministry of Works figures of the cost of installing and running irrigation schemes in the area between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers were given by the Assistant Commissioner of Works (Mr W. F. Young) yesterday when he and the Minister of Works •’'Mr W. S. Goosman) met members of the irrigation committee of the Canterbury Progress League. Mr W. F. McArthur, chairman of the committee’ said that if firm costs could be quoted he was sure that 75 per cent, of the farmers would agree to sign contracts, but they objected to signing for an unknown quantity. A minimum capital charge of 5s an acre foot would be sufficient on present conditions, that being based on the idea that present schemes were costing £2O an acre for head works and main distributory races, of which the quarter share to be found locally would be £5 an acre, said Mr Young. To that had to be added 5s an acre foot as a minimum water charge, making the maximum charge 10s an irrigable acre. A development period of 10 years was allowed, so the minimum guaranteed acreage charge would begin at Is an acre, rising to 10s an acre over the irrigable area. Schemes would be designed to supply one and a half acre feet over the total irrigable area. Extra water would be available at the water charge rate. “What we want is a drainage board in reverse,” said the Minister. “Somebody to bring the water on to the land and to impose the rates. It is no good going into a scheme haphazardly.” Farmers would sign contracts, but they listened with one ear to those who said they would be giving the Government a blank cheque if they agreed to schemes without having definite costs, said Mr McArthur. “The Gbvernment doesn’t want a cheque at all,” said Mr Goosman. “We want the people to go ahead and run the schemes.”

When Mr R. McGillivray suggested that there should be one authority to control irrigation schemes in Canterbury, Mr J. K. McAlpine. M.P., said: “That would be disastrous.”

Could not the county councils take control of the work in some areas? asked the Minister.

Mr McGillivray: They say they have already got too much to do. After Mr Young had worked out the costs, which he said were both maximum and minimum. Mr McArthur thanked him, and said he felt sure that now that firm costs had been given the farmers would go ahead and support irrigation schemes.