The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10th, 1940. POSSIBILITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 184, 10 July 1940, Page 4

The Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10th, 1940. POSSIBILITIES

WITH, the urgency of the Dominion's war effort still freshly impressed upon the public mind.and the call to the. primary producers to redouble thir efforts in the interests of the Empire now being tested as never before, it is interesting to note the remarkable results from dairying on the Rangitaiki Plains over the past twenty years. The question, then arises—if this has been possible by way of normal growth and the application of individual knowledge and endeavour, whi'at are the possibilities of the Eastern Bay of 'Plenty lands under pressure. Astounding as it may seem to those who have not witnessed its phenomenal transformation, the plains which back up the town of Whakatane have changed from arid swamp lands useless for anything other than as a happy hunting ground for the occasional sportsman,, into smiling green fields of pasture, second to none in the Dominion. The Rangitaiki factory from its small beginnings in. 1920, was proud of its output of a bare 61 tons of butter. Twenty yfears later the figures had jumped to 4550 tons. In simple terms the output had been increased by no less than seventy six times. It is doubtful if there is any other company in this country which could boast of a similar achievement. Possibilities! They are endless, and in these days of awakening conscience in the body politic the Rangitaiki Plains will once again demonstrate what can be done by intensive farming and butterfat production in response to the Empire's S.O-S. Thousands of acres are still awaiting drainage,, cultivation, and pasturing. With Government co-operation and active protection of agricultural labour much more can be achieved. The farmer, who can. be classed on the whole as one of the most loyal and patriotic persons in the community, is ready and waiting He will willingly; respond'to any. call made upon him. In fact he is anxious to serve for the sake of his own peace of mind, apart from the possible increased returns likely to result. What he requires most at the present time is something tangible by way of an objective at which to aim, a quota! Unless a certain figure is set, which must, or should be attained, the farmer's effort is merely a nebulus thing which may or may not take place. But create a definite goal and every land worker has something towards which to bend his efforts. The maize production question has figured prominently enough in these columns of late to warrant any further reiteration, but a note should be made of the fact that, the 1700 acres laid down in maize last year is likely this season to be increased to 3000 acres. The objective in this instance gives something concrete to work upon. When the last agricultural census was compiled, the Whakatane County had, a cow population of 46,290. To this may be added 22,723 pigs and 2,973 horses giving complete figures to dairy farm stock. But the Rangitaiki basin, .which embraces the tTrewera mountains, the lase foothills and the Manawahe plateau posesses flocks of sheep numbering 64,551- Thus will be seen another important primary industry developing side by side with dairying. A study of the above, and a knowledge of the fact that the. potentialities of this district will possibly in a few years time make even the present production figures appear ridiculous., lends strength to the argument that here is an ideal area for the spending of every ounce of national effort on the production of more and still more primary foodstuffs. The Rangitaiki Plains are waiting to give all that is required of their broad (rich/ acres and in their development will provide for the settlement, of a growing number of primary workers and the steady expansion of our major industry-