The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1928. IRRIGATION PROPAGANDA.

Evening Star, Issue 19803, 29 February 1928, Page 6

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1928. IRRIGATION PROPAGANDA.

Thebe appeared to-day two letters to the Press and a report of a “largelyattended ” meeting of the Dunstan branch of tho Farmers’ Union at Alexandra on the subject of irrigation in Central Otago. The purport of all of them is tho same—“ Why waste money on a Royal Commission?” In tho first place, what justification is there for assuming that the money spent on a Royal Commission would be wasted? That is not the purpose of the irrigation settlers who are, practically without exception, petitioning for one. But the Commission being sought is undoubtedly not one of the composition ingeniously suggested by one writer, who says it “would no doubt bo composed of politicians.” If such were to be the case, those seeking the Commission might also have misgivings on the score of waste of money and time, also on the score of obtaining redress. It is unlikely that the appointment of any Commission would instill confidence in the petitioners unless it had as its president a judge of the Supreme Court and comprised among its members an outside expert on irrigation matters. For it must be obvious that to some extent the Public Works Department—in whose ranks alone those in the dominion with expert knowledge of providing irrigation works and afterwards administering them are presumably to bo found—is on tho defence, and should therefore not adjudicate upon its own case. As to tho personnel of tho remaining member or members of the Commission, that is a matter for the Government to decide. It is to bo hoped that during thoir forthcoming tour of Otago the Prime Minister and the Minister ot Public Works will be able to make some reassuring announcement of tho constitution of the Commission, for nothing short of a thoroughly competent and impartial body will be acceptable to those who are seeking its establishment. Tho alternative being proffered by t lie writers to whom we have referred is, under the circumstances, somewhat audacious. They admit that the irrigation system and its administration are in need of immediate reorganisation, and that there are a lot of grievances to be remedied. One of thorn suggests that a Board of Inquiry (not a Royal Commission) would suffice, one “ which will go exhaustively into the matter and have tho whole system put on to a sound basis.” Another writer (whose letter is largely a paraphrase of portions of tho pamphlet which Messrs Tennant and Marks issued on ‘lrrigation and Its Practice ’ in 1921) suggests that “the head of the present Government should be able to deal with the matter quite easily.” But the head of the present Government was Minister of Public Works at the time of greatest activity in irrigation construction works in Otago, and presumably lie would be averse from filling so invidious a position as final judge of his own past administration, oven though he may have “very able men at his elbow who are keen on irrigation.” However, the full intent of tho propaganda which has simultaneously made its appearance on. the eve of the Ministerial visit can be gleaned from the resolutions unanimously passed by the “ largelyattended” meeting of the Dunstan branch of the Farmers’ Union at Alexandra on Monday night, and given publicity to-day. \\ c take leave to reproduce those resolutions in full:— That this branch of tho New Zealand Farmers’ Union wishes to dissociate itself from certain exaggerated statements which have recently been published with reference to failure of irrigation in Central Otago, and to stato that this body is not officially responsible for these. This branch, however, wishes to state to the Government that reforms are absolutely essential at this stage iu tho policy of irrigation, management, and control, and that an immediate classification should be made ot tho lands under irrigation schemes for the purpose of readjusting tho supply of water iu accordance with proper requirements of the various lands, and that irrigation rates should be modified and varied in accordance with tho measure of benefit derived. We are convinced that before being given to tho Public Works Department for construction future irrigation schemes should be investigated by an Irrigation Commissioner and Irrigation

Board, comprised of farmers and business men, and that all operating schemes should be managed by such a board and its permanent commissioner. Wo arc also sure that it would be in the national interests, and that of the settlers, that the Government should endeavor to secure the services of Mr J. It. Marks tor the position of Irrigation Commissioner, as wo are convinced that his knowledge and experience of irrigation in this district are essential, add that another nominee from the Government <ind tliroo furnusrs 'priicticul in irrigation should form the board. That this meeting appreciates the action of Mr Marks in collecting and presenting the figures with regard to the exports and future prospects from the irrigation districts of Central Otago, which show that, with the assistance of the Public Works Department, and in making some necessary concessions to settlers, the success of irrigation in this district is assured, and that a letter to that effect should be sent to Mr Marks.

During the course of his address at last Friday Mr Marks con-

fessed that the Public Works Department did not profess to be a business department, and that it was a difficult matter for the district engineer in Dunedin to control details of irrigation from that distance. He further proposed that a separate body should be set up, under the chairmanship of an Irrigation Commissioner, to administer the existing schemes and those which may hereafter be constructed by the Public Works Department on the recommendation of the irrigation Commissioner. It was at the time perfectly obvious what the real objective of the visit and the address was, but we were far too polite and discreet to even hint at it. Now that the Dunstan branch of the Farmers’ Union has been so amazingly naive and frank, there era be no further need for reticence. However, wo shall not further labor the point beyond drawing attention to tE- coincidence of the simultaneous appearance of this propaganda. The Dunstan branch of the Farmers’ Union, also the two Press correspondents, deprecate propaganda on the part of ourselves and of the Otago Expansion League, it is not propaganda to adduce first-hand evidence from the sufferers in support of their cry for an impartial and authoritative inquiry into the maladministration of which they are tlie victims, with the object of placing a large public enterprise on a footing which will enable it to expand to tho benefit of present and future settlers. As to the Otago Expansion League, we have the authority of Mr S. 15. Macdonald, its president, for stating that tho League is particularly glad to seo that tho Dunstan branch of tho Farmers’ Union admits that “ reforms are absolutely essential at this stage in the policy of irrigation, management, and control,” etc. “That,” said Mr Macdonald this morning to a ‘Star ’ representative, “ is exactly what wo have been stressing. The matter of tho classification of land and the modification of water rates arc matters with which the league has no desire to interfere, as we consider that only a commission of inquiry and investigation can decide as to the best course of action on such matters. The proposition that Mr Marks should be appointed Irrigation Commissioner is one on which the league has no desire to comment.”