新西兰英语 269 ECan replaced by Commissioners

　　ECan is short for Environment Canterbury. This is a regional organisation¹ which has been responsible for water, clean air, buses, and many other matters which affect our environment. Every three years, we have voted for people to be on the council of ECan. However, last month, the government decided² that the ECan council was not doing a good job so the Minister for the Environment, Nick Smith, dismissed the council.
He appointed a Commissioner³, Dame⁴ Margaret Bazley, to be the new chief of ECan. Today six other Commissioners⁵ were appointed to work with her. They represent both North and South Canterbury. Today was also the last meeting of the old ECan council.
Many people in Canterbury are angry about ECan being dismissed. They say that these people were voted in a democratic election. Where is democracy if the government can dismiss an elected council? There will be no elections for ECan for another four years.
The Minister, Nick Smith, says that the ECan council did not work together well. Some of the council represented the town while others represented the country and they could not agree. The biggest problem was water. As Canterbury now has so many dairy farms, more and more farmers want water. They use a lot of water to irrigate⁶ their farms. ECan has been careful about giving farmers rights to water for irrigation. Canterbury water comes from underground and no one really knows if there is enough water for everyone.

1 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

4 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

5 commissioners   

n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官

参考例句：

• The Commissioners of Inland Revenue control British national taxes. 国家税收委员管理英国全国的税收。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The SEC has five commissioners who are appointed by the president. 证券交易委员会有５名委员，是由总统任命的。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

6 irrigate   

vt.灌溉，修水利，冲洗伤口，使潮湿

参考例句：

• The farmer dug several trenches to irrigate the rice fields.这个农民挖了好几条沟以灌溉稻田。
• They have built canals to irrigate the desert.他们建造成水渠以灌溉沙漠。