LAKE ELLESMERE DRAINAGE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20105, 8 December 1930, Page 13

LAKE ELLESMERE DRAINAGE.

• TO THE *DITOB Or TBI FBSBI. Sir,—The work of draining Lake Ellesmere, as advocated by "H.H." in to-day's Press is a work of national importance. In various parts of New Zealand, huge swamps covered with manuka and native growth have been drained at immense expense. One would have expected that Lake Ellesmere would hava been one of the first areas to be drained, as the land is good and at a very small expense can be converted into first-elas« arable land. Too long have we people of Canterbury been content to see other areas of Xew Zealand developed at the countrys expense, without asking for onr share. It is time, also, that we awoke and insisted that our money be spent oa necessary and remunerative work, instead of almost useless back country roads and other works that are not really required at the present time. The drainage of Lake Ellesmere is required and we should see that it is carried out. The work would not employ a great number of men at first, but as soon as the level of the lake is lowered a large number could be employed draining and working the land. The extra productivity of the area at present flooded or water-logged would be a great asset to the whole district, and with the help of a subsidy the annual cost to the settlers would be only a few pence per acre per annum.—Yours, etc., EAUPO. December 6th, 1930.