KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1830, 16 August 1913, Page 8

KAURI GUM INDUSTRY.

UNIQUE PROPOSAL. SETTLEMENT OF GUM LANDS. A BIG SCHEME. Something quite unique in t,lie matter of land settlement was described to a Domixion reporter .yesterday by Mr. G. E. .Alderton, of Auckland, who is now on a visit to Wellington., llr. Alderton lived in the North Auckland district for thirty years, and is thoroughly conversant with tho position of tho application of' tho kauri gum industry to land settlement. Recently, said Jfr. Alderton, an estate of 59,00|) acres, known as Parenga, or Yates's Kiui, in the extreme north of the Auckland province, was purchased by Mr. Richard Keene, of Wellington. This run has for many years been famous for its kauri gum and Hereford cattle, but the difficulty of communication between the estate and Auckland city kept' it more or less from public notice. Improved means of communication aid the increasing scarcity of land have, however, oaused -those in eearch of land to go further afield.. Since Mr. Keene took over the estate ho has commenced the working of it on a very extensive scale. Machinery has been installed, teams nro engaged breaking up the land, crops have been put in, swamps havo been drained, thousands of acres have boon burnt off and sown ■with grass, and already 1500 head of cattle and 7000 sheep are running on the property.

The . most important transformation, however, will be made in regard to the gum lands, of which there are 40,000 acres. These havo teen handed over by Mr. Keene to a company (of which lie retains a quartor interest), and tliey.will be worked on tho most scientific principle. "Hitherto," said Mr. Alderton yesterday, "tho gum industry has been allowed to drift along just anyhow. Though Auckland exports half a million pounds' worth of gum annually, tho industry has never beon under any kind of'supervision', and—what is most important—no effort has been made to utilise tho land after it has been depleted of gum. Gum land is the best apple-grow-ing land in tho Dominion, but the gumdigger ■is not an apple-grower. There is no reason why he should not be, but no one has ever taken any interest in him. 11l tho ordinary way tho gumdigger putq up a. temporary "shack," exhausts tho land of its gum, and departs for fresh fields and pastures new. Ho ia a despoiler, but under different circumstances lie might be mado one of tho most useful settlers.

"At Parenga, it is proposed to do things differently. Tho whole system pertaining to gum-digging is to bo altered. For instance, on, private gumfields tho ordinary system obtaining is this: Tho digger, after obtaining his gum, has to sell it to tho owner of the land, at a prico fixed by the owner, or pay a heavy royalty on it, and has also to buy his stores from tho owner of tho land at prices -which, noedless to say, aro not those quoted in tho overy-day market. This system is to bo swept away at Parenga, and tho digger is to" bo charged a licenso fee for tho right to dig. Ho is then free to sell his gum to whoever he likes, and buy his stores where he likes.

"Hitherto tho Austrians, who, being alietis, are not. allowed to dig. oil Crown lands roserved for British gum-diggers, have been tied hand and foot by private land-owners, with whom they have to' make terms for digging rights. Under the system to bo introduced at Parenga, theso people will find a free field, and it is proposed to offer inducements to them to settle on. tho land and cultivate it. I'h.e Austrians are all expert fruit-grow-ers, and already round about Auckland and further afield they have tho best cultivated and best laid-out orchards. Now at Parenga the position is this: Tho man can easily make his ,£3 to «£5 a week digging gum, and ho can take up land for apple-growing which cannot be excelled in tho Dominion. The land he can have on tho easiest tennis of payment, ■ and wliilo his orchard is growing and coming into fruition he can maintain himself with gum. Tho position in this respect is unique.

"It is proposed to limit the number of men to 1» placed on the gum lands to 500, and experts say that the fields will support this number for forty or fifty years. The company intends to lay out special settlements, form fruit colonies, and to appoint experts to assist those who havo not the requisite experience."

From what port do you intend to export tho fruit when grown? asked tho reporter. "From Whangarei. Heads," said Mr. Alderton. . "There aro freezing works there now, and tho ocean liners already call to load meat for America and/England. The apples will bo taken to Wh-angafei Heads by -steamer." Tho gum lands have already been proved kitablo for the-growing of grapes, havo they not?

"None better. The Austrians have proved thumsalves great viticulturists. They beat British diggers hollow, by working in parties. Three or four of them work at tho establishment of the vineyards, whilst the others dig the gum. Tho climate and the land are suitable for grapes, and tho Austrians make excellent wine At present . tho supply does not nearly equal the demand."