LAND IRRIGATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 12

LAND IRRIGATION

Our Auckland contemporaries both express concern at the provision that is made in the Public Works Department’s estimates for the prosecution of the schemes of land irrigation. Each of them strikes the same note, that the Department should satisfy itself about the financial soundness of its undertakings,, before it commits itself to any more. It would be idle to deny that the results of the development of irrigation- in Central Otago have been somewhat disappointing in respect of the returns which the State has received upon its expenditure. It is only reasonable, however, to remember that the farming industry throughout the whole Dominion has been conducted under very adverse conditions for the past few years, and it would bo rather invidious to single out the farmers of irrigated lands in Central Otago as examples of defaulters in their payments. And, though the New Zealand Herald considers that the position in the matter of repayment is far from satisfactory, it is also reasonable to recognise that, as was pointed out in the Public Works Statement, the payments for irrigation water have improved considerably. They amounted during the past financial year to £22,132, which sum was £4140 in excess of the payments for the preceding year. Moreover, the payments during the current year have exhibited a distinct improvement. The figures show that for the sixteen-month period that ended in July last the receipts were £12,198 more than those for the preceding period of the same duration. No doubt the policy which the Department has adopted, of requiring that the settlers who have omitted to make payment of their dues shall pay in advance for the water supplied to them, has had a useful effect in reducing the arrears. The present amount of these arrears is not inconsiderable, being £17,225, after allowance is made for the cancellation of debts to the extent of £9167, on the recommendation of the Mortgagors’ Relief Committee, because of the extreme hardship of the circumstances of the settlers affected. The Department considers, however, that a definite improvement in the position of the irrigators is now to be anticipated. The Minister has expressed the hope that the position will be “quite back to normal by the time the new Omakau scheme is ready to be put into operation.” A departure

which is being made in connection withthis scheme will appeal to the settlers. They are not to be asked to enter u into agreements to irrigate- specified it areas. “ The system,” it was. observed;-.* in the Public Works Statement, “0f..,, binding irrigators by agreement to take v a fixed quantity of water each season is not always beneficial, because the rainfall varies from season to season, < and there is a tendency for an irrigator j to take his full quota of water whether jf the land needs it or not in a wet season,. thereby causing water-logging and r. , deterioration of the land.” It was due -■* to the existence of this system, no doubt, that 'a representative of the New : - Zealand Herald has, as that paper _ states, seen rushes growing on irrigated . i land in Ida Yallay. The principle of s charging only for the actual quantity :i of water needed each season accords ,J. with the general practice, and the K adoption of it in New Zealand should 3 be attended with advantageous results.