RAKAIA IRRIGATION SCHEME

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 19

RAKAIA IRRIGATION SCHEME

Major Proposal Rejected "Although all the ballot papers have not yet been returned voting to date indicates that the major Rakaia irrigation scheme will not go ahead in terms of the present Government policy for new irrigation schemes,” said Mr E. W. Buckingham, the chairman of the Rakaia-Seafield Irrigation Scheme committee, yesterday. “Ballot papers were distributed to the owners of 118.630 acres within the boundaries of the proposed scheme and votes relating to 109.600 acres have so far been returned,” said Mr Buckingham. “From these votes the owners of 55,252 acres are in favour of the scheme going ahead and the own ers of 54.351 acres are not. This still leaves 9027 acres outstanding, but as a favourable vote is required from 75 per cent, of the area (that is 83,000 acres) the major proposal appears to have failed,” he said. When the outstanding ballot papers have been received, said Mr Buckingham, it may be still worthwhile to investigate the possibility of modifying the boundaries of the scheme. In this manner it may still be possible to devise a scheme which would include the majority of the farmers who desire the benefits of irrigation, he said. Of the votes returned, 88 were against the scheme and 113 were in favour of it.