IRRIGATION TROUBLES.

Evening Star, Issue 19782, 4 February 1928, Page 12

IRRIGATION TROUBLES.

TO THE EOITOB. Sir,—The action of. the Public Works Department in relieving Mr Marks (whom . I know not) seems _ very like prejudicing the whole inquiry. Evidently that department-wants to confine the blame to Otago if it can, and make a scapegoat of the local man. But is. not dissatisfaction with the Public Works Department general throughout New Zealand—what of Arapuni, for instance?—and if the symptoms of mismanagement are so widespread in the country, is not the management of Wellington suspect in the matter of Otago irrigation at the outset ? The complaints in the newspapers regarding irrigation mostly concern matters of policy, for which Wellington should take its full share of responsibility, and not scuttle for cover. Even that matter of the number of white-collared people employed, if proved, would very likely be found to be a result of Wellington policy. In all probability they are there very largely to keep Wellington informed, by means of returns, etc., of what is going on. Here you see one of the “blessings” of centralisation. Wellington, demanding this information and being supplied with it at such great cost, cannot now disclaim responsibility if things go amiss by saying_ it does not road the returns when it gets them. I am under the impression that what is wrong with the Public Works Department is that it has bitten off more than it can chew; that it has too many things on hand to do any of them well; and that the interests of the country at large arc being sacrificed to minister to the greed for power of one or two departmental heads.—l am; etc, Fairplat. February 3.