IRRIGATION SCHEMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22709, 23 October 1935, Page 15

IRRIGATION SCHEMES

PROPOSED LEGISLATION AN IMPORTANT CHANGE [From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, October 22. A change in the principal underlying the working of irrigation schemes will be effected by the Public Works Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives to-night. It is proposed that irrigation schemes should be carried out under the same conditions as other State or private enterprises. At present before irrigation schemes can be constructed under the Public Works Act at least half the landowners who would benefit by the scheme must enter into agreements to take water. This procedure was adopted mainly to ensure an adequate return on the capital expended, but it has been found to work unsatisfactorily in practice. It has not been possible in many cases to adhere to the agreements, and the rates originally fixed have been reviewed from time to time by various committees. It is now proposed that when the scheme bwomes an economical proposition owing to the demand for water it should be constructed and the water sold to iirigators in such quantities as are required either for payments in advance or on monthly payments. This system will ensure that the irrigators do not get into arrears, involving the Government in large outstanding debts which it has considerable difficulty in collecting. It also lends itself to an automatic fdjustment to the farmers' financial resources. The Bill also contains provisions giving the Crown security against land and stock for irrigation dues in respect of any new scheme.