Irrigation of the Plains

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 118, 4 June 1937, Page 4

Irrigation of the Plains

DEPARTMENT TO REPORT Exhaustive Investigation To Be Made CONFERENCE CANCELLED Within the next few days a report will he compiled hy officers of the Soil Survey Division of the Bepartment of Sci ^ tific and Industrial Research on the possihilities of irrigation in the Heretaunga Plains. An assurance to this effect having been given, the Mayor of Hastings, Mr G. A. Maddison, has declded to cancel the conference of local-hody representatives called for June 14 to diScuss a coraprehebsive scheme for irrigating the Plains. O Mr Maddison informed the HeraldTribune this morning that yesterday he had conferred with Mr I. J. Pohlen, of the Soil Survey Department, who had assured him that he was now in a po'sition to compile a report on the various possi.bilities of irrigating this disyrict, and the report would be handed over to the Public Worke Dopartment within the next few1 days. "I understand that it is proposed that the Public Works Department, upon receipt oi' thxs report, will proceed Avith an exhaustive investigation from the engineering and economic aspects of the proposal to inaugurate a comprehensive irrigation scheme for the Heretaunga Plains," said Mr Maddison. "In view of this announcement I have collaborated with Mr "W. E. Bate, vice,-prestdent of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, and it Has been deeided to cancel the conference that was called for Monday next week," he added. " It is antieipated that the Public Works Department will proceed expeditiously with its investigations. There will be timo enough to hold the public meeting as proposed when it is known what developments have or have not taken place." The meetjpg, which has now been eancelled, was called by the Mayor on the representationls made to him by the Hastings Chamber of Commerce and others, who desired to have investigated a eomprehensive scheme of irrigation of the Plains. Invitations to attend the meeting were extended to all the local bodies, farming and commerclal organisations in Hawke's Bay.