DROUGHT IN CENTRAL OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27567, 8 December 1950, Page 8

DROUGHT IN CENTRAL OTAGO

Sir—ln the Daily Times of December 1 •• Dried Up ” draws attention to the fact that there is somewhat of a drought in the Middlemarch and Maniototo areas as well as the Ida Valley and Galloway. I would like to point out to him that as far as the Maniototo area is concerned the farmers there have themselves to. . thank for their present stress. At a con-., servative estimate, the Styx irrigation scheme has been discussed for 20 years and during that time quite a number of have been carried out. Through lack of drive, or perhaps because of_ the antagonistic attitude of the majority of settlers on the plain, .nothing has been done, with the present dire results. That the Maniototo would respond well to irrigation is proved by the abundant growth in those few acres that have access to water. However, this indifference and lack of foresight is not limited ■ only to irrigation. Would not some concerted effort by the local bodies and residents of the Maniototo in bringing pressure to bear on the Main Highways Board ensure that something constructive be done to that bullock track—the Pig Root—which is after all the main exit? Then there is that ” Cinderella of Central ”—Ranfurly. It is to be hoped that this newly-formed association is supported with some enthusiasism by the residents.—l am, etc., .. Progress.