“NO NEED FOR FEAR’’

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22478, 13 January 1943, Page 4

“NO NEED FOR FEAR’’

Irrigation Race Damage

Assurance By Mr Semple

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 12.

While assuring Ashburton district settlers that they had no need for fear of damage because seepage occurred recently at the headworks of the main irrigation race, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) yesterday made it clear that the proposal of the Ashburton County Council that independent engineers should make an investigation would not be acted

upon. “There is no need for hysterics,” said Mr Semple. “The race which was damaged by flood was not prepared or puddled for carrying water, and it was not anticipated that the water would get there. An abnormal flood caused the damage, and it was only natural to assume that there would be seepage in shingle country like that. The whole thing has been magnified. The farmers can be assured that there will not be any outside interference by engineers or otherwise. Our own engineers are competent, and the Government has sponsored the irrigation scheme and will see it through.”

There would not be, as anticipated by some, any major disasters, he said, and the Government doubted whether there would be any minor disasters. The Government had no control over “old-man” floods, and he knew of no farmer, government or engineers overseas who would have any more influence over such an unknown factor. “The race can and will be made safe,” said Mr Semple. “The biggest problem is to get men and machinery on the job. If we had 250 men and 20 machines available, we would have the job finished in 12 months; that is the estimate of the engineers. But those men are not available, and the machines are not procurable, and we will have to wait until such time as they are available. We have to co-relate men and materials to the defence needs of the country. If anyone is to blame, it is the Japs. The critics can wreak their vengeance on the Japs, not on us.”