IRRIGATION OF THE PLAINS

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 2

IRRIGATION OF THE PLAINS

Exhaustive Investigation To be Conducted CONFERENCE CANCELLED. From Our Own CorresDonflent. HASTINGS, June 4. Within the next few days a report will be compiled by officers of the Soil Survey Division of the Department of Sci 1 Afic and Indus trial Research on the possibility of irrigation in the Heretaungr. Plains. An assurance to this effect having been given, the Mayor of Hastings, Air G. A. Maddison, har» decided to cancel the conference of local-body representatives called for June 14 to discuss a comprehensive scheme for irrigating the Plains. | Arr. Maddison informed a reportI that yesterday he had conferrc with Mr. I. J. Pohlen, of th Soil Survey Department, who lm assured Jnm that ne was now in 1 position to compile a report on th# various possibilities of irrigating tins district, and the report would be handed over to tho Public Works Department within the next few days. “I understand that it is proposed ' that the Public Works Department, upon receipt of this report, will proceed ; with an exhaustive investigation from I the engineering and economic aspects , of tho proposal to inaugurate a comprehensive irrigation scheme for the Heretaunga Plains," said Mr Maddison.

"In view of this announcement I have collaborated with Air W. E. Bate, vice-president of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and it has been decided to cancel tho conference that was called for Alonday next week," he added. "It is anticipated that the Public Works Department will proceed expeditiously with its investigations. There will be time enough to hold the public meeting as proposed when it is known wliat developments have or have not taken place." The meeting, which has now been cancelled, was called by the Alavor on the representations made to him by tho Hastings Chamber of Commerce and others, who desired to have investigated a comprehensive scheme of irrigation of the Plains. Invitations to attend the meeting were extended to all tho local bodies, farming and commercial orcmmsatimwi in TTawke’s Bav.