A CORDIAL WELCOME

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 47, 19 November 1925, Page 8

A CORDIAL WELCOME

MR. COATES IN DUNEDIN' By TELEGuArrt— Press Association. I Dunedin, November 18. The Prime Minister on the occasion of his first visit to Dunedin since his accession to the Premiership, was given a cordial welcome. He met deputations to-day, the most important being in regard to unemployment created by the cessation of activities at the exhibition buildings, and the completion of various municipal works. It was estimated by the deputationists that approximate!v 500 men have been rendered idle. The Premier promised every assistance by furthering public works * > • At lunch Mr. Coates was the guest of the Rotarv Club, and dwelt at length on the’ problem, of irrigation in Central Otago. He explained that the figures had been arrived at after very exhaustive inquiries. It was estimated that the cost of irrigating 280,000 acres would be four and a. quarter millions, at an average cost of £l5 per acre. At the end of 20 years the accumulated extra production should be over eleven millions, and continue at the rate of one and a half millions per annum.