IRRIGATION MISMANAGEMENT CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 19784, 7 February 1928, Page 3

IRRIGATION MISMANAGEMENT CHARGES

CHIEF ENGINEER REPLIES HO MISCALCULATION OF WATER RAGES NOT NEGLECTED [Special id the 'Sriß.’] WELLINGTON, February 6. The recent criticism of the management of the Central Otago irrigation scheme, and the demand lor a Rojal Commission ot investigation were brought under the notice of Mr I'nrkerMchirf engineer and under-secre-tary of the Works Department) by your correspondent. Mr Furkert stated that before the petition was circulated a copy was sent to the department, and ho was not in a position to say whether the Government would take action, that being a matter for the. Minister of Works. However, the publication of a number of allegations justified a prompt reply. Dealing with the statement that the department's engineers gravely underestimated the cost oi the works, Mi Furkert replied that no doubt construction, which reached over the war period and after the war boom, did cost more, and this was the only reason. It was a more serious matter to say that the amount of water available had been over-estimated That was absolutely incorrect

“ Me have always had the amount of water reekoiied upon, and a shade more. Even in spite of a dry period no have had all the supply no thought ne would have, ft is an easy thing to say that supervision of tho races lias been neglected. Iho fact is that they have burst three times, but no quantity of supervision would have prevented that in the rough character of country through which the races are constructed. It happens now in the Main Trunk country to the railway alter twenty years of running, and a high degree ot efficiency in maintenance; and it has happened in Manawatu (forge after even a longer period. Yet nobody suggests that the Kailway Department’s maintenance and supervision are inadequate because this occurs. It is alleged that tho race men are overloaded with work and responsibility; that is the first we have heard of it.” The Under-secretary declined to discuss the recent dismissal of the district engineer for Otago.

THE BEST REJOINDER

ANOTHER PETITION EXPANSION LEAGUE’S BACKING. In conjunction uiHi the Central Otago people who are already moving in Hie matter of setting up a Royal Commission oi Inquiry into tnc state of irrigation affairs the Otago Expansion League has prepared another petition, also praying lor investigation by a Royal Commission. lumens the first petition, Hie text ot which was published last,week, is signed by settlers who are users ot water or who desire to use, water which the Government contracted to supply, this second petition is for circulation among the business men and working men in the affected tor disaffected; districts, whoso interests are naturally bound up in the success!ill application ot water to the irrigable areas. Rigorous steps arc being taken to ensure that there shall be no duplication ot signatures on the different petitions. The text of tiie later petition is as follows: Hon Minister of Public Works, Wellington. Sir,—We, the undersigned residents of Central Otago, respectfully request \ou to lake immediate steps to set up a Royal Commission to investigate and report upon the various irrigation schemes in Central Otago. We respectfully point out that the expenditure on these works has been enormous, that the estimated price ul construction has been exceeded more than three times, and the charges on ibis capital cost arc more than tho land can bear. The land served ny these schemes is lor the most part barren and unimproved, and can only be brought into production by the wise expenditure of a considerable amount of capital. The water charges of the department are the first charge upon the land, consequently it is practically impossible for any settler to borrow on his holding for planting or development purposes. Most of the settlers are struggling, and unless some relief can be offered may well be compelled to walk off their holdings. We respectfully point out that it is only by the development of the land to its utmost capacity that the Government can, ever hope to receive interest and sinking fund on file capital invested, and that position cannot be reached for a number of years at least. We further point out that until this barren land has been properly grassed the amount of wafer required per acre is considerably more than the amount supplied by the department, whose estimate of the amount required per hundred acres has been proved totally inadequate. Wc are also of opinion that the whole system of administration is both costly and inefficient, and the position is so serious as to call for an immediate investigation with a view to the control of the irrigated areas being removed from the Public Works'Department and vested in an irrigation board. We trust that yon will give the setter voiv immediate and serious consideration, as your petitioners desire the Commission to sit without delay. We have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient servants. MORE MISTAKES THE MOUNT IDA RACE COMPLAINT FROM NASEBY, The following letter was received today by the secretary of the Otago Expansion League:— Nuse by, 6th February, 1928. Mr Steel, Secretary. Otago Expansion League. Dear Sir,—l see by Tuesday’s ami Wednesday’s ‘Times’ that your league are interesting themselves in the irrigation schemes ol Central Otago. You mention the Arrowtown Yraxk.is'.n, M*nuh.erikia, And Tarras

'schemes, but'there is no mention of the Hawkdun scheme.

The Public Works Department has been spending thousands of pounds on the latter works for the last two years, repairing the Mount Ida mining race and cutting side races, and when it is finished there won’t be enough water to wet the bottom of rhe races. I n fact, this scheme is a huge joke in the district. It would be a good thing for the country if one of your league could come up here and go into the whole matter and put it before Mr Coates when he is in Dunedin. Everyone that’ lives in the district knows that the Government arc throwing Hie money away on a thing that will never be any good. the Public Works called lenders recently for the erection of thirty-nine miles' of telephone line on these works, and I know that the lowest tender was just on £SOO, but I hear that you are going to do it by day labor, and, at the rate their men work, it will cost the country four times that amount.

Hoping your league will take this matter in hand, 1 remain, Yours truly, (Signed) I. .1. Paufit.