BREAKING-IN LAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 174, 17 June 1940, Page 8

BREAKING-IN LAND

SWIFT TRANSFORMATION MODERN METHODS AT MANAWAHE Something of the efforts of the Eastern Bay of Plenty Primary Production Council is to be seen on the unbroken ManaAvahe forest block where a mighty liorse-poAver bulldozer is at present stumping, log-> ging and clearing the land at the astounding rate of one acre an hour. The amazing speed of this modern method of land clearing is attracting the attention of settlers of all OA r er the Rangitaiki Plains and it is expected that many other farmers Avith land of a similar nature Avill become interested and seek the co-operation of the Council in reclaiming more and still more land for the dairying industry. A Vigorous Policy. The work of the Council is directed towards the greater output of dairying and other foodstuffs included in the Dominion's Avar effort and on December 21st last a small sub-committee consisting of Messrs J. L. Burnett (Nukuliou), N. J. C. McDonald (Waimana),, H. Holmes (Opotiki) and C. R. Taylor (Department of Agriculture, Whakatane) was appointed to go into, the matter of increasing production and to discover those lands which AA r ere handicapped for lack of development and the groAving of winter feed for stock. Several areas Avere investigated but it Avas finally decided to concentrate on the ManaAA r ahe district where large tracts of first class land are aAvaiting development and only require a vigorous policy to be transformed into ideal dairy farms. The proposal was to stump and log certain areas on settlers' holdings with the idea of ploughing and making it available for pastures and root crops. The Public Works approached to supply the necessary machinery and to that end the district Avas visited by Departmental engineers AA'ho made a eo mp re lie ns i surA T ey and

reported back. As a result, a 22-ton Bulldozer commenced work last Tuesday and in a single day of six hours stumped, logged and cleared no less than six acres. Cost of Operations. The basis of payment is £2 per hour working time plus 10s travelling time, all cash in advance. At the present rate of work the cost is £2 per acre, which compares with the ordinary manual cost of from £6 to £8 per acre for stumping alone." The saving of time is another important factor. Already, in the Manawahe area alone, the Council has under consideration from three to four hundred acres and it is anticipated that there is every likelihood of yet another machine being put on to the - work. Incidentally, the Bulldozer 1 can be utilised for road-making at '• the same rates. Farmers are requir- ' ed to meet these costs in an effort to bring into production! all the backward areas which are capable of carrying stock. The uncanny speed with which the work is carried out is one of the arresting features and those farmers likely to be interested are advised to make a visit to the Manawahe block where they will see.for them- < selves four and five foot stumps be- ] ing removed in less than three min- ] utes and thirty foot trees pulled out j by the roots and stacked ready for burning. I