CENTRAL OTAGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 13

CENTRAL OTAGO

CLAIMS JUSTIFIED

VALUE OF IRRIGATION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, February -26.

An entirely favourable impression of the potentialities of the land in Central Otago under irrigation -and the use of- proper planning methods has been gained by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin), who arrived at Dunedin this evening after his first visit to Central Otago. The Minister expressed' an emphatic opinion that if the land was to be exploited to its fullest extent it would be necessary for it to be subdivided into areas that would enable it to be efficiently handled by a farmer and his family.

' "I approached Central Otago through Lindis Pass,"'said Mr. Lee Martin, "and I must say I was not .at all .impressed witlvthe country until I reached Hawea Flat, of which I had heard a good deal. I realised the potentialities of the soil when I visited the farm of Mr. J. Hunt, of Maungawera; where I was amazed at the high 'production figures, due'very largely : to the use. of certified ryegrass 'and clover seeds .to r gether, with the application of. water to the drier parts of the land. To one unaccustomed to Central. Otago it is difficult to visualise .an arid country responding so magnificently . to. water, but after having seen the excellent crops of lucerne and clover, as well as the fine orchards, I can see the justice of the claims of Central Otago settlers that with sufficient water they have some of the finest land in New. Zealand." . . . "GREAT POSSIBILITIES." The Minister said he could see great possibilities in Central Otago provided that it was supplied with water, and he was satisfied that if development of the land was to proceed as it should the Government was ' 'undoubtedly faced with the necessity of bringing in further irrigation schemes, particularly in the Upper Clutha arid Maniototo districts. One thing that, had impressed him during his tour was that it was essential for irrigated holdings to be of such a size that they' would be capably handled by the individual farmer. It had. been forced on him .that in many instances individual farmers were holding, too large areas of land under irrigation, and in consequence they were unable to- cope, efficiently with! the water being sup-] plied to them. .. .; ' .; ' .

"It would appear . obvious," •■■ Mr. Martin added, "that if-the Government is going to develop further irrigation schemes in Central Otago this, should be done on the lines: of planned agri-culture,-.with the .land- if. necessary being resumed by the Government, properly grassed,, and.'subdivided into areas of such size- that •they can be* capably "handled by a farmer'and his family." •;...-■ . .:. '