IRRIGATION WORKS ROWING AND WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 1, 26 September 1939, Page 9

IRRIGATION WORKS ROWING AND WAR

Progress In Canterbury ECONOMIC VALUE

By Telegraph—Press Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, September 25.

Irrigation works iu Canterbury are being pushed ahead steadily. The Minister of Public Works, Mr. Semple, tonight said that if circumstances .compelled a stoppage of any public works, irrigation would be the last to be stopped. No reduction in the staffs engaged on irrigation works in Canterbury has been made. Two big schemes now under construction, both getting their water from the Rangitata River, are those for Mayfield-Hinds and AshburtonLyndhurst districts. The Mayfield-Hinds scheme is of 54,000 acres and the other embraces 34,000 acres. The present proposal is to complete the diversion race and the distribution races by September of next year. “Irrigation works will be the last to be stopped,” said Mr. Semple. “The cessation of any works through circumstances will be determined by their productive value. Because of the vital necessity of Increasing our production, irrigation works must go on. They are economically valuable,”

Effect On Championship Regattas CANCELLATION URGED The probable effect of the war on rowing regattas and club activities generally was discussed at last night’s meeting of the Wellington Rowing Association, when remits were being framed for consideration at the annua! meeting of the New Zealand Rowing .Association at the end of next month. Mr. J. I. Thodey (Star Boating Club) moved “That while the war is on, all championship regattas be postponed.” In the last war, championships had been cut out, he said, and at present, rowers did not know .when conscription would be brought in or when they would 'be called up. If the championships were held, rowers with onlv a couple of years’ experience might enter and win in the absence of more experienced oarsmen, thus cheapening the New Zealand title. The remit was seconded by Mr. R. -J. Tregurtba (Petone Rowing Club). While agreeing with Mr. Thodey, Mr. H. J. Luke (Wellington Rowing Club) said he thought it would be unwise to make a decision before January. It was not known yet how many oarsmen would be affected. Seconding an amendment by Mr. Luke that action be delayed till the end of December, Mr. A. Clouston (Wellington) said that many sporting events were being carried out in spite of the war. Mr. Thodey: We as a nation are at war, and, as time goes on, it will be a matter of the men’s consciences, and you will find men joining up more keenly than at present. Mr. Tregurtba: We have the precedent in the last war, but on the other hand, there has been a request from the Government to carry on as far as possible. The amendment was carried by a large majority. A further remit by Mr. Thodey, “That the invitation to the Australian crew to visit New Zealand be cancelled.” was carried, members being of the opinion that, if the war continued, there was little likelihood of the visit eventuating. Olympic Distances. It was decided to put forward a remit for the N.Z.A.R.A. annual meeting, altering the rule governing distances for championship races, the suggestion being that all championship distances be reduced to one mile and a quarter, the same as at the Olympic Games and the British Empire Games. It was mentioned that if the remit were carried it would affect championship but not interprovincial eights. Other remits carried were: “That the starter and the umpire for championship regatta events be appointed by the N.Z.A.R.A.” ;■ and “That if the championship regatta is not held, the levy on members of the N.Z.A.R.A. be not called, on this year.” KEMPTHORNE FOURS Wellington Club’s Race Rowed The second of the Wellington Rowing Club’s races for the season was decided during the weekend, when four crews rowed off for the Kempthorne Fours. Results are:— E. Hollander (str.), K. F. Fish (3), W. Morgan (2), J. Francis (bo,w) 1 H. Boese (str.), I. Love (3), T. Williams (2), A. Clouston (■bow) 2 H. J. Luke (str.), J. Garner (3), D. Mayo (2), T. Williamson (bow) 3 Also started: N. E. D. Mathewson (str.), 8. S. Watson (3), A. Anderson (2), N. R. L, Johnson (bow).