Plains Irrigation

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 144, 6 July 1937, Page 8

Plains Irrigation

NEXT STEP IS UP TO P.W.D. Must Wait Till Officers Are Free To Investigate DEPUTATION'S CASE Though no hope was held out that the Publie Works Department would in the near future investi- _ gate the possibilities of irrigation and drainage of certain parts- of the Heretaunga Plains, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, last night gave a definite assurance that the proposal would be investigated when the officers best competent to carry out such work were free of their present pressmg duties. The question was raised by a deputation ' headed by the Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, an'd representing the Hastings Bdrough Council, the Chamber of Commerce, the Retailers' Association and the Hastings and Distriet Progress League. It was mentioned that the sckemo involyed an expenditure of approximately £10,001), and that the immediate area affected would be about 11,000 acres, though a much wider area would relatively benefit. The scheme is the outcome of the soil survey being made by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Minister in charge of which is Mr Sullivan. Mr Maddison briefly outlined the • various reports that had been releascd by the Soil Survey Division, and sbid that these had indicated that by tlie irrigation of portion of the plains there would be ?increased productiyity and, because of that, increased population in the distriet. Tlie matter had now reached the stage when it was i'or ihe Publie Works Department to investigate the position, and it was desired that this should be done as quiekly as possible. Mr Maddison said that Argentijie experts had declared that Hawke 's Bay produeed the best pear iu the wlioio world, and tlie increasing of the j>rodactivity of the soil by drainage uud irrigation would open up a lurtiier' avenue for New Zealand trade, ile pointed out that Hawke's Bay also produeed the kighest yield of fruit" per tree in New Zealand, indicating again the wonderful productivity of the soil iu this province. H.B. Could Support a Million " What Now Zealand uecds is a population of .6,009,000," he said, "and the time will arrive when it will need to be that to absorb our production. I am firmly of the opinion that Hawke's Bay can coinf ortably and . econoiuicaJly support a population of J. 000, 000 if thero is intensive cultivation. " Mr Maddison added that the survey which had been made had proved that it was possible to establish industries, both primary and secondary, in the province that would not in any way enter into competition with those" of other districts. "The solution of the unemployment problem is the absorptioh of the out-of-work into primary and secondary industries," he said, "and increasing the productivity of the soil by intensive cultivation, as suggested, would open up avenues for the absorption of the unemployed." Mr Maddison mentioned that tht> earthquake had altered the levels and the water-tables and that this had had a detrimental effect on the fruit trees." The scheme that was now proposed would cost about £10,000, and was of such importance that it should be undertaken at the earliest possibie date, for it would not only mean increased productivity but would also allow for extensive cultivation. ,"This job is well worth while," he said iu referring to the soil survey. "In my opinion it should be undertakeu throughout New Zealand. I appreciate that it will mean money, but I feel that it would be more than justified. There ie just one other smail point that has occurred to me, and that is that, until we are in a position to absorb the out-of-work, such schemes as mentioned will provide work until the industries are in a position to asborb the surplus labour." Supporting Mr Maddison, Mr H. R. French recalled that during the depression period several committees were formed to bring about various proposals to relieve the position created. There were four major ideas, as follows: — I, Closer settlement; 2, establishment of canneries; 3, further tree-planting: and 4, the sideline of soya-bean growing. Karamu Settlement. "Though those committees had many disappointments, it is interesting to note that they were suceessful in accomplishing a little of everything with the exception of 'the - main thing, that of closer settlement, " he said. ' ' Even in that we did achieve a very small thing, that of the Karamu Settlement, but I do not think that the nien on those areas had the support' that they deseryed " As indicating further the productivity of the soil in this distriet, Mr French mentioned that at Whakatu, for example, it had been possijjle for men to go right off the labour - market because of their intensive cultivation of such small areas as ffve areae. He eonsidered that, although one realised that wonderful productivity existed in the distriet, yet there was, reffitively speaking, the greatest ' measure of unemployment in this distriet. It was time that ■omothing was cjkme to bring about an improvement. The soil survey opened up the question of closer settlement, and he urged that the position should be pressed on. In reply to questions by the Minister, Dr. Marsden and Mr I. L. Pohlen, of the Soil Survey Division, said that II,000 acres were suit'able for 'Trigation. At the present time this area cropped n.amly cerCals. Mr Sullivan : How far is this -area from Hastings? Mr Pohlen: About four miles. Mr Sullivan: Oh, so it is almost right on the eit/t

Dr Marsden: A relatively larger area that the .11,060 acres would , benefit. The idea is to have a drain that would divert the waters off this area and at the same time reduce the water- . table affecting on adjacent distriet. The matter was now one i'or the Publie Works Department affd the Employment Board. Support for the representations was also given by Mr C. Grifliths, president of the Hastings Retailers' Association. Minister's Reply. "I appreciate the enthusiasm you have sliown, especially the fact that you have taken 1 an interest- not only in the welfare of the town and distriet, but also iu the national problem," said tlie Minister m" reply to the deputation. "As one who has taken an active interest in civic lite, as well as parliamentary, I am always inspired-when 1 meet men who have vision, and dream dreams, and have some conception oi how the progress of our country can be achieved. "It is only by that sjiirit, characteristic ot that shown by Mr Maddison and you others to-night, that we cau hope to achieve the tuil progress anil oevelopment ot this country, which can be built up to be a wonderful country and which can achieve something unexcelled by ony other country. "We are going right on with the soil survey throughout the whole of New Zealand," he said. "We realise that it will take time ,and can only be done a distriet at a time," but we appreciate the efficiency of the survey to indicate the possibilities of establisbing industry. • From the reports that have come to me i think a good job has been done here. "Regarding irrigation," he added, "the hcientilic ant^ Industrial Research Department has done its job. The next job is for the Publie VVorks Department to survey the meciianical requirements to carfy to fruition the results of the soil survey. I have been m communication .witli my colleague, Mr Semple, and I find that it will not be possible to give any clear iudication at the moment as to wlien liis department can carry out its work in this direction. "At the pres.ent time, I am to!d, .the officers of his departuient are fully engaged but be has given an indication that when they are available. they will be. put on to tlie job," said" Mr Sullivan. "1 may. add that- Mr Semple seema. anxiou's that the men to be put on this job should-.be those who have liad, the -experience. of si^ilar -Work in Cantprbury. - 1 cannot tell you when that wilb be, - but 1 can tell you that it will be done when the Publie Works officers are free to carry it out."