CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20355, 12 March 1928, Page 10

CENTRAL OTAGO.

PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED. A COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION. INSPECTION OF SETTLERS’ HOLDINGS. Mr J. G. Coates (Prime Minister) was interviewed yesterday by an Otago Daily Times reporter with regard to his recent tour of Central Otago. “ I -was pleased to note,” said Mr Coates, “ that the general progress of irrigation development in Central Otago is very marked since my last visit, and is certainly in-a fair way now to coming up to my best expectations. The general consensus of opinion expressed by settlers at the several meetings held, publicly as well as privately, during the course of the visit of myself and my two colleagues —the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Public Works—is that there was no call for the pessimistic statements which have been circulated, and that if some of the smaller difficulties and grievances inseparable from all large development schemes are looked into and adjusted there can he no reason to doubt the prosperity of Central Otago.”

“With a view to an early adjustment and removal of difficulties, I have approved of the setting up of a Committee of Investigation, which, I hope, will commence its duties in about a fortnight. The investigation will also deal with matters concerning the operating side of irrigation. The committee will undertake the systematic inspection of individual holdings throughout the irrigated areas, and its personnel will be announced with as little delay as possible shortly after my return to Wellington at the middle of the week. It will probably consist of five or six members, including representatives of the State Departments concerned and renreseutatives of the settlers in the district.”

THE RURAL CREDITS SCHEME. “ I would like again to draw attention to the provision which has been made under the Rural Credits legislation of 1926 and the Intermediate Credits Act of last session, which have been designed to afford easier financial facilities for the farmer. I commend both these measures to all primary producers —those in Central Otago as well as other parts of the Dominion.”

IMPRESSIONS OF THE TOUR,

MR M'LEOD INTERVIEWED. DEVELOPMENT VERY NOTICEABLE. Interviewed by a Daily Times reporter on his return to Dunedin last evening, Mr A. D. M’Leod (Minister of Lands) stated that in company with his colleague, the Minister of Public Works (Mr Williams), he had during the past week travelled close upon 1000 miles in the rural districts of Otago and Southland. “ Since my previous visit to Central Otago two years ago,” said the Minister, “considerable improvement has taken place in the matter of irrigation, and this, combined with the general improvement of pasture in the dry areas, due to the absence of the rabbit nest, gives promise of a greatly enhanced production from the district as time goes on. was pleasing to note also that in the high country runs where the rainfall is sufficient, some of the holders are adopting with a considerable degree of success the top-dressing of suitable portions of their lower country, thereby increasing the stock carrying capacity during the winter months. “ We were greatly impressed,” continued the Minister, “with the extent and the development of the Southland district. A wide area was traversed and almost without exception the pasture and crops wore found to be in good heart and in striking contrast to those in many districts in the north which have suffered so severely from the recent drought. Eew rabbits were seen and the settlers generally are confident that they can now be kept permanently in check.” Mr M’Leod concluded by stating that with the exception of portions of the GoreDunedin. highway, which were not con ducive to comfortable travel, the whole of the roads traversed were in excellent condition and compared more than favourably with those in many other districts he had visited throughout New Zealand.