WHERE ORCHARDS FAILED

Evening Star, Issue 20015, 5 November 1928, Page 16

WHERE ORCHARDS FAILED

RiPPOHVALE AND FRUITLANDS THE POSITION ANALYSED BY IRRIGATION COMMITTEE Fruit growing in Central Otago, especially with irrigation, has been on tho whole the feature of this province’s development in primary production during the last thirty years. It has not, however, been an unqualified success. There have been tho exceptions which prove the rule. Two of the exceptions- are dealt with in the report of the committee which irrigation in Central Otago—Ripponvalo, which is served by prviate enterprise in the matter of water; and Fniitlauds, which lies in the district formerly known as Bald Hill Flat, near Alexandra, on tho opposite side of tho Molynou.x. This latter area is irrigated by a Government scheme, in which use was made of tho Last Chanco old mining race. Tho committee’s reports, aro as follow

Tho Ripponvalo Orchard Settlement was established by tho Cromwell Development Company some thirteen years ago, and comprises approximately IGU acres, the area being subdivided into thirty allotments. About 300 acres of the total area were commanded by water races known as tho ‘‘Byron” and ‘‘Lowburu. ’ The Dclevopment Company acquired rights from these races and contracted with settlers to supply irrigation water on certain conditions contmnporaneous with tho agreement to purchase allotments.

The charge for water nas originally fixed at the animal into of £1 15s per acre; the allotment was at the rate of 1-200 part of a head per acre, delivered from tho main races during an irrigation season of ISI days. Up to tho eighth year following tho establishment of the orchards everything pointed towards success. In succeeding years, however, tho apple trees, instead of making progress and showing increased yields in line with age, perceptibly weakened in growth and yield of fruit. This is a condition of affairs which is not peculiar alone to Ripponvalo, hut has been experienced generally throughout Central Otago. So pronounced was tho deterioration that a considerable reduction in yield was recorded not only in the caso of individual holdings but over tho whole settlement. Five years age 7,000 cases of apples were put through the co-operative packing shod, but in tho 1027 season only 3,00(k and this season it is probable the total will again nob exceed 0,000. Had tho orchards progressed as might reasonably have been expected tho output should by r.ow have readied at least 20,000 cases.

So serious is tho position created by the yield failure that a number of settlers have abandoned their holdings, and those who remain arc faced with considerable loss'of capital even if they can carry on. The settlers invariably blamed tho failure to the lack of an adequate supply of water. A deputation of settlers waited on the Prime Minister when the Ministerial party visited Central Otago in March last. They expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions regarding the supply of water by the Development Company and requested that the Government acquire the company’s water rights and assume control of an irrigation scheme serving tho settlement.

Tho Prime ■ Minister, with the concurrence of Mr P. 11. Sargood (chairman of tho Dcvelopmanfc Company) arranged that this committee would include Ripponvalo in the scope of its investigations. . . Tho committee subsequently nivrled the settlors to meet its members, and a meeting was held in tho packing shed at Ripponvalo, when there was a full attendance of settlers. The settlers fixed on water shortage as the primary cause of all their trouble. In tho course of discussion tho following points wore, adduced: —

1. Tho water supply of_l cusoc to 200 acres was considered inadequate, and that this allocation had not even been delivered. Evidence was obtained from tho Development Company that more than a full supply had" boon delivered to settlers. Tho committee is not in a position to_ adjudicate between these two viewpoints. It was stated that orchards require at least 1 cuscc to 150 acres, and dairy fanning 1 cusec to 100 acres. 2. That the main races were nob kept in repair, and race losses impaired the supply of water. 3. Some irrigators maintained that they had not received water during some summer months. 4. It was claimed that the system of delivery of irrigation supply was erratic, that there wore no measuring boxes, and that irrigators did not receive water in terms of the agreement. 5. Lack of water was considered to bo responsible for tho state of tho orchards. 6. Complaints wore made ahout the rate charged for water. LI per acre was regarded as the outside price irrigators could pay for an adequate orchard supply. 7. That if orchards failed, resort must bo had to dairying. The present areas were too small for success, and it was desired that the Government should acquire tho Development Company’s interest in adjoining Crown lands. 8. It was considered that an increased water supply could bo obtained by harnessing Deep Creek. Tho estimated cost of this was stated as £6OO, and that of increasing capacity and repair to main Byron race as £I,OOO. d. It was estimated that approximately 400 acres of irrigable land on Bipnonvalo was commanded by the hill" races, ami, os indicated, irrigators could pay a rate of £1 per acre if given amplo water. 10. Several years ago an effort was made to purchase tho Development Company’s water right and races. The company offered to _ accept £4,000, but' negotiations with the County Council fell through.

The committee look an opportunity later of inspecting the various holdings on the settlement. The members were impressed with the deterioration evident in most of the orchards, but the committee is not satisfied that lack of water is the only cause contributing to their failure. In several instances the owners have succeeded in arresting the retrograde movement by green manuring and the application of fertilisers. It was opined by settlers that, apart altogether from insufficient water supply, a contributing subsidiary cause of failure lay in the variety of apple trees and parent stocks. A number of settlers _ have pulled out their apple trees, while others are experimenting by cutting back the trees in hopes of establishing a better root system. Even if successful in the latter procedure it will be several years until any return is obtained. The soil is good as far as appearance goes, and generally comprises a heavy silt deposit that would apparently grow anything. It transpires that these lands were formerly farmed and for years in succession were devoted to grain growing. This > resulted in the soil being deprived of its natural fertility, leaving it devoid of humus. It is only recently that several settlers have changed to the system of growing legumes between the trees, alternately ploughing in the green crop ami rc-sowing. Without the latter ustem it awmrs that it is jjjyjos-

siblo for settlers to_ gob llio full benefit of water supplied, no matter in what quantity. The committee is of opinion that the failure on Ripponvale is largely attributable to the following main causes:— ' 1. Impoverishment of the . land through cultivation and cropping prior |to the establishment of orchards.

2, Neglect to recognise tho necessity for green manuring and tho use of fertilisers during the years following establishment of orchards. 3. Inadequate and irregular supply of water.

Referring to tho subject matter of the settlers’ request that the Government should take over the irrigation scheme,' the committee proposes to view tho project on purely business linos. It is hot concerned with any al-‘ loged past failure on tlio 'part of the Cromwell Development Company.. to carry out any. conditions; implied in the agreement with the settlers. It respectfully suggests that all parties should get together with a now to placing the supply and delivery of water on » hotter footing, Tho Development Company should jnako further efforts to meet the position that has arisen by reviewing the charge for water. Tho financial position of each settlor should bo investigated, and an endeavour made to give those who arc prepared to persevere a fighting chance to make good. Tins history of tho settlement shows that untoward and unforeseen circumstances have arisen loading up to heavy losses of capital. At this..stage it is highly desirable that the remaining settlers and the Development Company confer and by negotiation adjust tho liability both with regard to arrears, land, and water, in order to stabilise the whole position and prevent further loss of capital. It must be recognised that ©very settler who abandons his property represents a loss to tho company, while on the other hand if an erstwhile struggling settler can bo encouraged by readjustment to _ make good, he is a source of potential revenue. The Development Company has offered to accept £4,000 for its rights, and on the initial outlay the financial results would he approximately as follow's : Accepting settlers’ statement that 400 acres could pay £1 per aero, the position wmuld bo as under:— Revenue £4OO Expenditure—--5 per cent, on £4,000 £2OO 5 per cent, on settlers’ estimate of harnessing Deep Creek and expenditure main race (£1,600) 60 llaccman’s wages and horse allowance ... 266 Race repairs (say) ... 160 Suulry expenses ... 00 £716 Annual loss ... 316 £716 £716 The comini Uoo inspected the proposed suorco of supply from. Deep Creek in tho Meg basin. They, also traversed tho main Byron Race. In its opinion any race from Deep Creek would have to traverse a _ difficult route, and it doubts tho possibility, of economically increasing the water supply from this source. The committee takes tho view that with a full knowledge of the conditions on tho settlement, and the certainty that a loss will occur on the proposal as submitted, it is not justified in making any recommendation to the Government to purchase the Development Company’s rights. FRUITLANDS. This area lies south of Alexandra, along the foot of Obelisk Range. On the main part of tho scheme l : 2"b acres have been signed for, including tho area known as Eniitlands, where the principal industry was fruit growing. Tho land is situated at a much higher altitude than that of Manuherikia and Galloway schemes, and experiences severe frost. Tho water is distributed over this area on tho basis of I cuscc to 200 acres, and although somo settlers stated that they required a larger supply of water, tho committee is of opinion that, as the irrigation season, owing to the position and altitude of area, is short, tho present allocation is reasonable. Surplus water from this area is supplied to northern areas on which 1,071 acres have been signed for; but this can bo termed only partial irrigation, as tho normal supply is about 5 cusccs. During the extremely dry season of 1927-28 tho supply averaged only 4i- cusccs, and fell as low as 2 cusccs for a short period. 'The charge per acre for this supply is only half that charged on the main scheme, but, as many of tho areas r; reiving this are small and their proportion of water on an acreage basis during very low supply would be extremely small, the settlers have been allowed to receive an extra supply at an. enhanced rale. Some of the settlers on small holdings on tho extension stated that tho supply last season was inadequate and irregular. Naturally, this would bo so whilst there was such a small quantity available, and the only way to ameliorate this position would be for the settlers, wherever possible, to group themselves and receive their supplies in rotation. Tin's would ensure to each farmer a reasonable flow of tho water available^ It has always been assumed that further areas would be brought into this extension, but in view of tho small amount of water available for the existing areas it is evident that further areas should not bo included, bruit farming on Fruitlauds has proved a failure, and many of the orchardists have pulled out their _ trees and changed to pasture. This is mainly attributable to the severe climatic conditions experienced. Seasons 1926-2 < and 1928 were unfavourable to these fruitgrowers, who have been particularly hard hit, some of _ them having purchased their properties as developed orchards and now arc compelled to revert to dairying or sheep farming. These men entered on their farms with every hope of making a success of fruit growing and no blame can be attached to any one for the failure: it has been pure misfortune, and the committee desires to recommend that in all cases where orchards have been or may in the future be abandoned and converted to grass the rate he varied to the starting rate of the graduated scale—viz., 2s 6d per acre per annum as from September T, 1928, or from such later date as the areas may he abandoned for fruit growing.