IRRIGATION IN N.S.W.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1922, Page 11

IRRIGATION IN N.S.W.

T.C.L.)

THE MURRUMBIDGEE SCHEME.

GREAT POSSIBILITIES.

(By

The statement was cabled from Sydney to New Zealand some four months ago that the Burrinjuek dam, conserving the water for the Murrumbidgee irrigation areas, was proving a white elephant, and causing a considerable financial loss to the State. I found the statement to be a little “previous,” and the impression created by its dissemination misleading. Last week I enumerated some of the difficulties besetting the average Australian producer. Compared with him, the New Zealand farmer is very highly favored. The Australian's greatest drawback is the possibility of drought, which, incidentally, may account for his philosophic outlook upon life. He is, however, endeavoring to provide that which Nature, in the distribution of her largesse, has failed to do. He is conserving his water supplies, and arrigating otherwise poor or valueless lands. And he is succeeding.

THE GRANARY OF THE WORLD—WITH WATER. Given adequate water supplies, Australia would be the granary of the world. Unfortunately her large rivers are few and far between, totally unlike New Zealand, where rivers and streams abound. But a good start has been made with the conservation of the water of the two main rivers, the Murray and the Murrumbidgee. In regard to the Murray the Commonwealth’and the States of N.S.W., Victoria and South Australia have combined with a view to erecting a large storage reservoir above Albury, also locks on the Murray. Later similar locks are to be erected on the Murrumbidgee. These works are regarded as essential, not only to allow of fresh development in irrigation, but to safeguard the irrigation schemes already in existence along the river. The “magnus opus” is on the Murrumbidgee—the Burrinjuck dam.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. George Evatt, the engineer in charge of the works and the irrigation area, and of hearing him describe what had been done, and is to be done. The dam is one of the largest in the world, conserving as much water as there is in Sydney harbor, and is expected to irrigate nearly half-a-million acres. Already 100,000 acres are supplied with water, comprising 1650 farms, which carry a population of 10,000. When fully developed, the scheme will serve from 6000 to 8000 farms. The present production of the land as irrigated is estimated at £200.000, and Mr. Evatt confidently claims that it will later be increased to two to three millions sterling.

The land is being devoted to fruitgrowing, viticulture and dairying. The farms, especially the fruit farms, are yet in the making, and it will be some time before they are in full production. The scheme embraces a canning factory (which last year suffered a considerable loss on account o-f the drop in the price of tin, of which it held large stocks), a State hostel and a model township. The value of the fruit canned this year was £34.000, and of the fresh fruit sent to the markets over £20,000. The land is very productive, two crops in many instances being taken off it yearly.

HEAVY EXPENDITURE. The schem° has cost'the Government up to date about six and a half millions— £2.270.000 for the dams, canals, etc.; a million for the purchase of lands; a million and a half for roads, bridges, fences, etc.; half a million for public utilities, houses, factories, etc.; half a million for rolling and working stocks; and nearly a million on advances to settlers. Six hundred and twenty returned men have taken up sections on the area. They are mostly engaged in fruit growing and are doing satisfactorily. Up to date 3288 acres of oranges have been put in; 2980 acres of peaches, 5209 acres of grapes, and 1270 acres of prunes. To give an idea of the extent of the works it may be mentioned that there are 1080 miles of drainage channels already constructed; 450 miles of supply channels, and 129 miles of main distribution canals. The butter factory paid out last year £47.000. the bacon factory £7OOO. and the canning factory £34.000. All the factories are in their infancy. This year’s figures are expected to show a marked increase.

WILL THIE SCHEME PROVE SUCCESSFUL? The completion of the scheme will involve the expenditure of a few more million, but those in close touch with the work are confident that the scheme will prove an entire success and a profitable investment for the State. There is another section, however, who regard the enterprise with disfavor, and express doubt that the State will ever recover interest upon the enormous amount of capital sunk in it. Bearing in mind what is being done in the Mildura district, another irrigation area in Victoria, there is good reason *for believing that the scheme will work out successfully for the settlers concerned and the State. In a way it may be regarded as a great experiment, and if it be successful then it is expected the State will endeavor to bring into profit other areas by means of irrigation. The future of New South Wales and other parts of Australia is largely bound up with irrigation. Only the coastal districts, varying in extent from 50 to 200 miles, can depend upon rainfall, and then not always regular rainfall. There is certainly room for greater subdivision and greater production. and ample scope for better method* in regard to practically every department of farming, which, as pointed out in a previous article, are far behind those in this Dominion. Australia must secure further population and induce it to settle on the land. The tendency at present is for the population to herd together in the large cities. During the past decade Australia’s population increased by nearly one million, or 21.80 per cent. The ri”*al districts did not share largely ia Wl ‘ increase, as was necessary in the inter*-,.;,, o f and for the welfare of the counts The opposite occurred. The rural districts increased by only 9 per cent., whereas the metropolitan or capital cities added 38

per cent, and the provincial towns 20 per cent, to their numbers. A MENACE. Some of the public men see in this movement a decided menace to the country. They realise that the country has considerable natural resources which only require population of the right kind to exploit them. They see that in the near future the struggle for existence will become keener and keener, and that the only charter to such a huge tract of country that will be regarded as valid is population and development of the land. Tn Sydney these men of public spirit and vision have formed a Millions Club, whose slogan is “A million farms for a million people,” and they are naturally keenly interested in the irrigation schemes and the utilisation of the present almost waste lands that can be brought into production. It will not be their fault if the work of opening up the country and extending the irrigation facilities are not pushed forward energetically. Something has been done; much remains to be done. N.S.W. and other .States have great problems before them, and not the least is the peopling of then- vast empty spaces. 1 This subject may perhaps be profitably discussed on another occasion. It should interest us in New Zealand, for Australia's interests are our interests; I her problems are our problems; and her dangers are our dangers. In short, we ; stand or fall by Australia, and this fact will be brought home to us in fashion as time goes ojo.