The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1929. UPPER CLUTHA VALLEY.

Evening Star, Issue 20252, 13 August 1929, Page 8

The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 1929. UPPER CLUTHA VALLEY.

Thebe is at present being circulated in Dunedin n petition to the Government asking for what the Central Otago Irrigation Committee of Inquiry declined to recommend—viz., that the State, take over the affairs of tho Cromwell Development Company. This petition is being freely signed, and the signatories include some of the most representative and weighty names in manufacturing, commercial, and professional circles in Danodin. A similar petition is also in circulation in tho Cromwell district, and needless to say is being whole-heartedly supported. It would be mere reiteration for us to refer to the state of affairs at Ripponvale, and as to tho lower-lying land served by the irrigation from tho company’s Kawarau scheme; it will suffice at present to say that during tho fourteen years’ operation not one settler has been placed on the Cromwell Flat. It has been argued that this is no business of the State, and the Coates Government adopted that attitude on tho lead given it by the Irrigation Committee. It is sincerely to bo hoped that the Ward Government will view the muttei- from a more equitable standpoint. Certain rights and privileges were granted by tho Government to the promoters of the Cromwell Development Company conditional on certain obligations being carried out. Some very important obligations have not been carried out, and it cannot now be pleaded that time is necessary for their performance. The other side of the case was recently placed before the Dunedin public; but, after making every allowance for disappointment due to inexperience and miscalculation, no other conclusion is possible than that the present state of affairs is, and long has been, a liability to the district instead of an asset, and there is no present prospect of it being otherwise unless the State intervenes.

It is high time that the State took a more active interest in the affairs of Cromwell district and the Upper Clutha V alley. We are no more satisfied than are the members of the Cromwell League over the Otago Land Board’s handling of land affairs there, whether in reference to the subdivision of runs or the disposition of'the Pisa Flats. But, more important still, we arc convinced that the State’s havering m respect of the provision of irrigation for the lower levels on each bank ot the Upper Clutha, utilising the water from the river itself, is a grave economic waste. It is not merely a matter of the full utilisation of what are now, under dry farming, virtually waste lands—worth a few paltry shillings an acre, instead of, say, £2O an acre of irrigated—but of the immense increase in the sheepcarrying capacity of the whole of the Central Otago high country. The summer country is most grievously understocked simply because not enough winter feed is grown on the lower levels. The Upper Clutha Valley is notoriously one of the most arid districts, even in dry Otago Central. Equally well known is tho capacity of this Sand to grow anything if irrigated. Outstanding proofs of this are Mr J. Lethbridge’s grass aud clover paddocks'on the one bank, and Mr M. Do Bettincourt’s orchard oil the other. Both these landholders possess private water rights—the one from the Lindis Hirer, the other from one of the water races contouring tho eastern slope of tho Pisa range. There are thousands of acres awaiting similar improvement. Then, especially with tho getting under of the rabbit pest, winter feed could bo grown in quantities sufficient to warrant stocking up the high country to its full carrying capacity. The great bulk of Otago’s hinterland is sheep country, and can never be anything else, unless it is to revert to a huge rabbit warren. Tho fullest possible use must b© made of it if this province is to hold its own in New Zealand’s ■increasing production as a wdiole. Everything depends on irrigation. That the Government has contemplated its provision for some time is shown by the method of subdividing tho huge Mount Pisa estate years ago. A number of blocks of small individual area were withheld from settlement on any permanent tenure, the very insecure temporary licenses being inserted so that as soon as. tho water became available the land would bo available*also for cutting up into irrigable holdings. Time has passed, and there has been np move by the State. Private enterprise as- now taking the matter up. Application has been made to the warden for water rights on the Hawea River (the initial step in a big project) and an objection has been lodged by the Public Works Department. We agree that this ought to be a national work, provided that the very best expert knowledge, planning, and. supervision ■ are, employed. But if a national task is deferred indefinitely private enterprise cannot legitimately bo blocked in an effort to .provide for what we consider to be incontestably Otago’s most vital requirement to-day.