THE NEEDS OF LEVIN.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 798, 22 April 1910, Page 4

THE NEEDS OF LEVIN.

TOLD TO PREMIER. DAIRY SCHOOL AND CANNING.'- . THE-SAND BUGBEAR.

During his visit to Levin yesterday the Primo Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) received a joint deputation from tho Horowhenua : County Council and the Levin Borough Council, on a number of important local subjects.

To Fight .Sand-drift.'* With reference to the ravages oE-sand-drift in,the district, Mr. Field,M.P., said that already thousands of acres "of valuable land had' been despoiled,/ and adjacent areas were threatened. ■• Dr. Cockayne's roport on the subject was of great valne, as showing the extent, of the trouble, but , it was desired that he should be allowed to continue his investigations. Tho owners of the land.in question were at a loss to know exactly what would be best to plant on their lands. They would propose that an area of land having a frontage of two miles to the sea be acquired by the Government-for experimental purposes. . ■■'■ ■

Mr. Gardener (Mayor of Levin) mentioned that a sum of £10,000 was put on the Estimates last year to help to meet, the coat of coping with the sanddnft nuisance. Ho thought the Government should acquire certain Native land in the locality' which would become very much more valuable if experiments to check the sand-drifts wero successful. They felt that in addition prison labour should be employed -to plant the area, which amounted to between 2000 and 3000 acres.Mr. "Richards and Mr. France ■ supported, these remarks. 'Sir Joseph (in reply) said he sympathised with those owners whose properties were liable to sand-drift. As regards -the land which it was proposed the Government shouldracquiie, those 'interested ■■ in the .experimentshould get the-Native owners to'put' it' under offer. If the' price were aa stated'he felt sure that the Government would go as. far as securing a piece- on : which to carry put experiments. '■,- ■'

Fruit Canning industry Needed., Yi In urging that Government -assist- , ance should be extended in regard to a proposal -fonthe establishment of the fruit canning industry in the district, Mr. Field said he was advised .thai there was no better soil in the Dominion than; the ( Levin., district,: for: fruit growing. Apples, for instance, were a. particularly good crop in the locality, if fruit growing were encouraged there it would mean the fruit would be more plentiful ,in the centres. The Minister for "Agriculture had informed him that he had a scheme in hand which would apply to various districts, including Levin. , . , ■ .

Mr. M'Leavey said it was .thought that if the Government would assist in connection with the 'establishment of the fruit canning industry it would lead to hundreds of acres being profitably used for ; fruit growing , . Owing to the lack of such an-industry a-good deal offruit now went to waste, as it did not payto put'it on'the market. \ ••'" bir Joseph (in reply) said that tho Government already guaranteed a certain return per. pound: on apples exported, to England. It. realised that it , would require to do a great deal more than had been done in connection with the, industry.. The Government's proposaliWßS2io prepare and plant certainpJands beforir settling them, so that the settlers''efforts would prove romunera-. tive from J the start. .'•'■■ Al- along 'the Government had been prepared'tq assist the fruit, canning'industry as far as it legitimately could. Levin would share in the benefits which the Government proposed'to extend to .various districts in tho matter.' ■ :

:'■:..-. Lands for Closer Settlement. ' Voicing _ .'the need for the opening up of additional land in the district under the auspices of the Govermmint, Mr. Field said _ that the village settlements in the district had been a great success. '.' There was also Native land which; it was.'desirable should, be adequately settled at oncei , -, : . '■ Mr. Bichards referred to 25,000 acres upon which there was not more" than half a dozen homes. They would urge upon, the Government that tho Land Purchase Commissioners should be allowed to inspect the land with. a view to its acquisition , for closer settlement purposes! ,\ Sir Joseph ' (in reply) ' said' that hitherto, some owners had; asked more from the Government than their land was , really worth. The Government, was not always prepared.to givo thevaluation price, plus 10 per cent., for in some cases throughout the Dominion owners had had their valuations unduyl raised. ,lt was proposed by the. Government to adopt another system . under which land could be. acquired .on fairer terms. As regards Levin, .he wished to' point out that too much had been sought from the Government for certain land which had been;under offer to it. He was prepared to ,see if certain Native land .1 in the locality could be put on tho. market;in.spall■ areas. -.Their request. would get .the;, active attention of the Government.

A Dairy School Wanted. /' ' . In regard to a request that an experimental'dairy school should be established at Levin, Mr. Held claimed that no better place could be selected ■for. ! the purpose. • '~ '; . ' Mr. Prouse said that for, many years the local farm only served to show how money could be wasted. . Of late years, however, much good work had been done in connection with the institution. ■ The laiid and climate at the farm were admirable for carrying out experiments -in regard to: dairying. It was felt that plots of land, at the farm should :be sown in different grasses, and that the yield from the cows should be treated , at a special factory. If-experiments of the kind were carried out, it would go far to help to place, New .Zealand butter in the premier position in the world's markets. , Mr. Lancaster emphasised the necessity for pure pasture in connection with the manufacture of butter.

Sir Joseph (in reply) said that the decision of the Government to establish a. proposed experimental dairy school had not been altered. The reason why the institution had not been established • was that during the las* twelve months- all expenditure which could possibly be deferred had not been made. He intended to look over tie , experimental farm at AVereroa that day. It would not bo possible to have two dairy schools within coo-ee of each other, but the request of the deputation would receive careful attention. ■