CHATTO CREEK IRRIGATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27196, 27 September 1949, Page 6

CHATTO CREEK IRRIGATION

Sir, —I would like to ask the Minister of Public Works, through your columns, when the irrigators under the Chatto Creek scheme will be receiving water this year, also why there is confusion every year over water which is supposed to be available from September 1. Will he make inquiries from the resident engineer at Alexandra why a gang of 12 men can lay only three pipes in two days? If this is correct, he should gather all hands working on non-essential works around Alexandra and place them on this job until completed. Here is a wonderful opportunity for the Otago Expansion League to make inquiries into the handling of this scheme, as under the present system we are not getting enough water per acre for the poorer class of land, and if we want extra water after our quota is finished we are charged 2s per head, with the result that every irrigator tries to make his allowance do the whole season, and the department are by-washing water back into the river for a considerable period of the year, which is a loss In production to the country.—l am. etc.. Irrigator, [Mr J. D. Watt, officer in charge of the Ministry of Works, Alexandra, to whom the above letter was referred, said that the work of renewing the portion of the pipeline referred to by our correspondent is being pushed ahead, and he expected the work will be completed in a few days. Mr Watt explained that the work had been held up owing to a shortage of pipes. The question of water charges and allowances was under review •at present, Mr Watt added.—Ed. ODT.J