UPPER CLUTHA VALLEY

Evening Star, Issue 20130, 21 March 1929, Page 14

UPPER CLUTHA VALLEY

IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED DEPUTATION TO WAIT OH MINISTERS, [Fr.oii Our Cromwell CobbeSI’ONUENT.] Tho largest public meeting which the town has known for many years was that which was hold last night to discuss matters for the welfare of the Tipper Clutha Valley, ami to arrange to meet several Ministers who will visit the district at the week-end. Some seventy-five were present, representative of the town and the Valley as far as Hawea Flat. The position of the settlers of Ripponvnlo was discussed, also the necessity for irrigating the Cromwell Flat. Settlers on the property stated that Mr Fnrkert had said the Meg scheme was the one for the purpose, and it was decided to ask the Government to utilise this as its engineer deemed advisable. A long discussion took place on the question of harnessing Lake Hawea as a scheme for the whole valley. Three proposals were presented:—(l) To have a gravitation scheme, (2) to establish hydro-electric works for pumping on the land from the Clntha River, or (3) the original hydro-electric scheme at the Neck. Finally it was decided to ask for the latter scheme, with a view to irrigating the whole valley. Tho railway to Lnggato was next discussed, and a speaker was appointed to place this matter before tho Minister, and another was appointed to protest to tho Minister of Transport against the heavy motor taxes on vehicles feeding the railway. Tho most important subject was subdivision and closer settlement, and a suggestion was made that the Minister and the Land Board bq asked to declare their policy. Opinions were given .that many small runs could be profitably subdivided, and a local advisory body to urge these matters was suggested. The recent grant by the Land Board of 1,700 acres on Pisa Flats to a Cromwell resident was adversely discussed, in view of tho fact that tho Commissioner had stated to others that this land would be subdivided and ballotted for. Disappointed applicants at the meeting emphatically stated that the Commissioner had given them this reply, and one of the number was a returned soldier. Further criticism was made on the fact that no publicity had been given to tho board’s decision in February to hand all these flats back to the adjoining runholder. The mayor (Mr C. C. Sanders), who presided, and who was the successful applicant for the section referred to, made a statement in regard to the manner in which he had secured the grant, and stated that tho renewal of the license to the adjoining runholder (Mr M'Millan) was done from Wellington. Vigorous protests were made against the board’s and the Commissioner’s action in the whole matter,- and the way in which they had somersaulted from the original announcement to applicants for sections on this area. It was pointed out that many would take much smaller areas of this land on a temporary lease until the land was finally required for irrigation. On land matters generally a further motion was that the Minister of Lands be asked to take every available opportunity to resume all lands capable of subdivision, and that a committee bo set up to assist deliberations further.

It was decided to congratulate the United Party on the manner in which it has set out to carry out its election pledges as regards the land question. The possibilities of artesian water foi Cromwell Flat and the advisability of running the Central train in daylight during the winter were other subjects mentioned to be brought before the Ministers.

A letter was read from Mr Podkin, M.P., who said that he had protested against the proposed transfer of Mount Durke, and also that on a recent visit to Wellington he had received a very favourable hearing from the Minister re irrigation schemes for the whole valley.