Water Projects First Portion of Programme Tsingtao, July 15.
Development of water' conservancy fs the first step in the Government's programme for the reconstruction of the North-west, said Mr.. V. Soong, member of the Standing Committee of the National Economic Council, in an_interview here.
During his recent investigation tour of the Northwest, Mr. Soong remarked, he paid particular attention to the question of water conservancy in the North-western provinces. As convinced the opening the result of that trip, he is deeply
irrigation canals is absolutely dispensable for the rehabilitation of the rural districts in' the Northwest.
Several irrigation canals are already in existence in Shensi, he continued. Banking interests have invested heavily in the development of those canals. It is now planned to open. more canals in Shensi, and the funds will be reised jointly by the National Economic Council and tine Shensi Provincial Government.
The Government is also contemplating the opening of irrigation canals in Ninghsia and Kansu. For this purpose, it has already decided to remit a sum of $£00000 to the latter province. Tt is estimated that the canals when completed will be able to irrigate an area of 600,000 mow and turn it into fertile farm Tand. In four or five years, a total of 2 or 3 million mow of farm land will be made productive by the development of waterways, Mr. Soong said—Kuo Min.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.