IRRIGATION TROUBLES

Evening Star, Issue 19778, 31 January 1928, Page 5

IRRIGATION TROUBLES

CENTRAL OTAGO DISSATISFIED NEED FOR REORGANISATION DEPUTATION TO MEET MR COATES The Central Otago tour of Mr S. B. Macdonald (the president of the Otago Expansion League) should, in the near future, have important results. While on his recent business _ trip, Mr Macdonald mixed freely with the settlers of the various inland districts, and he found that great discontent existed among the settlers in some parts regarding the control and results of the irrigation works. Complaints came to his ears in such numbers that it was certain they did not originate because of the shortage of water caused merely by the drought. There was something deeper to be considered than that. The irrigation works were not fulfilling their purpose. On all sides Mr Macdonald was urged to co-operate in an effort to place the matter before the Government.

A petition, signed by 9S per cent, of the settlers concerned in the irrigation works is being circulated throughout Central Otago, and, when prepared, will bo placed before the Minister of Public Works (Mr K. S. Williams). Ultimately the document will be sent on to Dunedin, when, it is expected, additional signatures will be added to it. The petition reads as follows: — We, the undersigned residents of Central Otago, being the owners of the parcels of land set opposite our respective names hereunder, do hereby respectively request that a commission be set up by the Government to investigate and report on all matters pertaining to irrigation in Otago; or, as an alternative, that the present Irrigation Advisory Board bo instructed to come to Central Otago and investigate and report upon the different irrigation schemes. There arc many cases in which the settlers disagree with the policy of your department, and wo feel that if the whole matter was investigated by an impartial tribunal, a policy could be decided upon which would bo in the best interests of all parties concerned. We trust that you will give this matter vour earnest and favorable consideration.

Already the Expansion League is getting into touch with Ah' James Horn, member for the district, and with Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., both of whom are always ready to light in the interests of tbo province. Already Air Sidcy has approached the Prime Minister regarding his forthcoming visit, and he has asked that an early_ visit be made to Dunedin. It is considered that no Minister has a better grip of the Central problem than Mr Coates himself, and for this reason the deputation of fifty farmers who will put forward tin petition will concentrate principai.y upon the Prime Minister. The bad management of the Public Works Department in its control of the Arrowtown-Franktou scheme impressed Mr Macdonald very forcibly. In his opinion it was an absolute disgrace. The farmers could not get water, and were being forced to get rid of their stock. The Expansion League was going to investigate the whole problem of irrigation thoroughly from points of view of both engineering and administration. There were far too many men with white collars on the job. What was needed were the services of a few who were willing to handle a spade and who could use a bit of common sense.

“We are not going to say too much just now,” said Air Alacdnnald this morning. “ AVc want the .Ministers to get the full blast of the complaints when they receive the deputation.” However, from what can ho gleaned it seejps that the majority of the grievances come from the districts served by the Alnnnhcrikia scheme. Since the drought canto on the races are not carrying sufficient water for the needs of the settlers, although it is stated that they arc carrying their fail capacity. Also, it is contended that repair work has interrupted the How of water in the Alauuherikia and Manorburn races. This work, it is thought, should have been carried out more quickly than was the case, and as iar as the Alauuherikia was concerned, at a time other than at the height of the dry season.

Tho Tarras .settlers slate that Dig water from the Hindis River is intercepted by the races, thus leaving tho river bed bone (Ivy, and many areas the owners of which arc liable, for water rates have not had a drop of water this season. They consider that the cost of the works have been gravely underestimated by the engineers and that tho amount of water has been overestimated. An Armwtown complaint concerns the delay in construction work and the attitude of Public Works officials in tho district.

MB MARKS REPLIES

In answer to (ho complaints. Mr J. R. Marks, the district Public Works engineer in charge ol' the irrigation works, stated that there had been three interruptions in the Manuhcrikia supply, the first ol which look place in November when the service had to be discontinued until the defect was remedied. In canying out this work there were no unnecessary delays. A few weeks later there was another break, and a third was caught before the breach was fairly under way, although it was considered necessary to stop the supply until repairs were effected in order to prevent the development of a more serious fault. Mishaps of tins nature were common lo all works of the kind, and, unfortunate as it might seem that those at Manuherikia should have occurred in the dry season, they could not bo helped. Time was needed lor the weaknesses in any race to show up, and it was generally recognised that in the early period of an irrigation system tho water would locate tho weaknesses.

With' regard to the Tarras district, Mr Marks said that no settler was required to pay for the water mail it was available to him. The department gave settlers every consideration in cases where the supply was delayed or interrupted. In conclusion, ho said that the delay at Arrowtowu was unavoidable, in so lar as tlie engineers in the district were concerned. It is understood that the Public Works ofiicers in close touch with Central Otago irrigation affairs do not consider the present agitation to be wholly justified. They admit that the settlers have a number of troubles with which to contend—troubles that will not right themselves until the schemes have been in operation long enough for various necessary adjustments to bo made—but are of opinion that the forthcoming deputation will have, as an ulterior motive, the reduction in the water rates and the consequent increase in the capital value of the laud.

Mr F. W. Furkert, the chairman of the Main Highways Board, recently made a very rapid trip through these districts, and did not pay an official visit to any of the areas from which the present _ complaints are being received, and irrigation matters came before his notice only from one or two private settlers. It is understood that brief discussions on the subject took place at Avrowtown and Clyde. ' It has also been stated that drastic changes are contemplated in the administration, involving the retirement of one or more highly-placed, officers of the department..